ResultsThe characteristics of the participants are described inTable 1. Both boys and girls aged between 11-17 yearsreported similar mean values for age (p = 0.214). Mean val-ues for body mass (p = 0.910) and BMI (p = 0.211) were alsosimilar in boys and girls, though boys were taller than girls(1.59 ± 0.10 cm versus 1.56 ± 0.07 cm). Compared to boys,girls reported higher levels of disability as assessed by theRMDQ (p = 0.007). Girls also reported lower levels of HRQoLthan boys, as measured by the PedsQL, and also in terms ofthe domains of ‘physical functioning’ (p = 0.003), ‘emotionalfunctioning’ (p = 0.003), ‘physical health summary score’(p = 0.003), and ‘total PedsQL score’ (p = 0.016). These lowerscores on HRQoL reported by the girls were independent ofdegree of disability.