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Table 1 Quadrants of Life-Threatening Conditions in Children[14]

From: Designing and implementing a longitudinal study of children with neurological, genetic or metabolic conditions: charting the territory

Quadrant 1

Quadrant 2

Life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail.

Conditions where premature death is inevitable, but long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal activities

(e.g., cancer, irreversible organ failures)

(e.g., cystic fibrosis)

Quadrant 3

Quadrant 4

Progressive conditions without curative treatment options, where treatment is exclusively palliative and may extend over many years.

Irreversible but non-progressive conditions with severe disability susceptible to health complications and premature death.

(e.g., neurodegenerative, metabolic disease)

(e.g., anoxic brain injury, severe cerebral palsy)