Influence of port-wine stains on quality of life of children antheir parents

Abstract

Port-wine stains are congenital vascular malformations that affect the quality of life of children and their parents. This study used the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index and Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index to examine the effects of port-wine stains on the quality of life of children and their parents, including an in-depth, systematic analysis of the moderating effects of the children’s sex and port-wine stain classification. The study included 43 children (25 girls and 18 boys) and their parents. The presence of a port-wine stain had a significantly greater impact on the quality of life of mothers than on that of fathers (p < 0.001). Portwine stains in girls had a greater effect on paternal quality of life than did port-wine stains in boys (girls p < 0.01; boys p = 0.542). Severe types of port-wine stains exerted a greater impact on maternal quality of life (pink-red type, dark-red type, and purple-dark type: p < 0.001, p = 0.948 and p = 0.086, respectively). Therefore, clinicians should consider familial relationships and differences when offering psychological support.