Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Sickle Cell Disease Receiving Hydroxyurea

Hydroxyurea is a safe and efficacious medication for children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our objective was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) between children taking hydroxyurea and those not taking hydroxyurea. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with SCD who had completed the PedsQL 4.0 at Duke University Medical Center or the Midwest Sickle Cell Center. Our primary outcome was HRQL in children receiving hydroxyurea therapy compared with those not receiving hydroxyurea. One hundred and ninety-one children with SCD were included in the study. Children in the hydroxyurea group had higher self-reported Total PedsQL median scores than children in the no hydroxyurea group (P = 0.04). Child self-reported physical functioning scores were significantly higher for children in the hydroxyurea group (P = 0.01). In conclusion, children with SCD who received hydroxyurea therapy reported better overall HRQL and better physical HRQL than children who did not receive this therapy despite disease severity. Further research assessing the impact of hydroxyurea therapy on HRQL, such as prospective assessment over time, would aid in our understanding of the effectiveness of hydroxyurea for individual children. Ultimately, this may aid in decreasing the barriers to the use of hydroxyurea.