Abstract
Background: Several risk factors determined asthma control, which is a fundamental objective in patients' management, however it is still insufficient.
Objective: To assess how the lack of asthma control affects quality of life and which are the main factors associated.
Methods: Observational, cross-sectional and multicenter study that included severe asthma patients. We assessed quality of life (QoL) using Mini-AQLQ questionnaire, anxiety and depression using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and hyperventilation by Nijmegen questionnaire.
Results: 343 patients participated in the study, 67.6% women. Mean age (SD) of asthma uncontrolled patients was slightly higher, especially when analyzed according to Spanish Guidelines for Asthma Management (GEMA) [48.5 (14.7) vs 44.1 (14.1) years, p=0.079]. A higher BMI was observed in uncontrolled patients [28.2 (5.8) kg/m2 vs. 25.5 (4.9) kg/m2, p=0.006]. Smoking habit was not related to asthma control, while the uncontrolled group showed a significantly higher percentage of sedentary patients (49.7% vs 28.6%, p=0.016). Uncontrolled patients had worse QoL scores [4.4 (1.3) vs 6.1 (1.0), p<0.0001]. Scores on the basis of physicians criteria control and perception of the patient also showed lower QoL in uncontrolled patients [4.2 (1.2) vs 5.7 (1.2) and 3.9 (1.1) vs 5.5 (1.2), p<0.0001 in both cases]. Anxiety, depression and hyperventilation are associated with uncontrolled asthma group (p<0,001 in all cases).
Conclusions: Uncontrolled asthma patients had worse quality of life, showing higher levels of anxiety, depression and hyperventilation.
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