Quality of life of patients with asthma

Abstract

Introduction: In Portugal, the quality of life of the Asthmatics has been a theme poorly studied. The questionnaires performed by the Portuguese Association of Asthmatics, that state the quality of life of Portuguese asthmatics, their problems and needs, demonstrated that more than 70% of the Portuguese asthmatics consider that Asthma influences too much their lives. Several questionnaires have been developed to ascertain the quality of life of patients with Asthma. Published studies refer many factors that can influence the control of Asthma and quality of life. This research work intends to determine the relation between the Asthmatics quality of life and the following factors: Age, Gender, Graffar Index, Comorbility, Asthma Severity, Asthma Control and expected %FEV1 (%FEV1). Methodology: An observational, transversal, quantitative and analytical study has been performed in 210 Asthmatics over 18 years old registered in a Family Health Unit. Patients were randomly selected according to notifications made by doctors of that unit, integrated in the Sentinel Doctors of 2000 and 2002 and in the computerized individual records. Each patient was submitted to a questionnaire that would evaluate as independent variables the Gender, Age, Graffar Index, Asthma Severity by GINAs criteria, Asthma Control by the ACQ questionnaire, Comorbilities and %FEV1, and as dependent variables the quality of life (measured by two questionnaires: the SF36, the questionnaire of the heath condition, with physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components, and the AQLQ, a questionnaire specific for Asthma. Results: The percentage of women obtained was 69%, the age average was 44,8 ± 17,1 years old and 73,8% of the Asthmatics presented a Graffar Index of 3 or 4. In terms of general characterization of the Asthma, 32,4% of the Asthmatics exhibit persistent mild Asthma, 41,1% exhibit persistent moderate Asthma, the average of ACQ is 1,5 ± 1,1 and the average %FEV1 is 80,2 ± 21,2. Also, 65,3% of the Asthmatics studied presented Comorbility. By order of importance ACQ, Asthma Severity, Gender and % FEV1 explained 75,5% of the variation in AQLQ. ACQ, Comorbidity, Sex and Graffar Index, also by order of importance, explained 75,6% of the variation in PCS and 60,0% of the variation in MCS of the SF36. Discussion/Conclusion: This study proved that in the complete evaluation of the health state of the Asthmatics, besides the clinical and functional measures, measures of the specific and general quality of life should also take part, as they give information about the patients general welfare, reflect the state of control of the Asthma and may give information about its Seriousness. Thus, the Family Doctor should be familiarized with the measures of Asthma evaluation, the factors that influence it, and, specially, of its control, that is the most relevant aspect.