Health-related quality of life in children with developmental coordination disorder: a systematic review

The aims of this study were (1) to synthesize evidence of the general health-related quality of life in children with DCD compared to their typically developing peers, and (2) to verify which domains of HRQOL are more compromised in children with DCD. A systematic search was carried out to identify cross-sectional studies that evaluated self-perception and/or the parent's perception of the HRQOL in children with and without DCD as an outcome. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed, and the effect size calculated. Initial searches in the databases identified 1092 articles. Of these, six were included. Most of the articles (5/6) included noted that children with DCD show a significantly lower HRQOL than their typically developing peers. Regarding the most compromised HRQOL domains, the results are heterogeneous. Most studies (3/6) had moderate methodological quality, and two studies were classified as high methodological quality. Effect sizes ranged from low to high.