Association Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Ultrasound-Based Transverse Rectal Diameter in Pediatric Functional Constipation

Background

Pediatric functional constipation (PFC) significantly impairs children’s daily functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Assessing baseline severity and ensuring treatment progression are key to successful management. Pocket-sized ultrasound (PsUS) offers an accessible, dynamic, quantitative assessment of rectal morphology, but it is unclear whether PsUS-derived transverse rectal diameter (TRD) may reflect patient-relevant functional burden. This study examined the associations between PsUS-derived TRD, constipation severity, and parent-reported HRQoL in children with PFC.