Assessment of quality of life in asthmatics in Tunisia: A prospective study of 85 cases.

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Feb 7, 2011
Download
pdf
Vol. 89 No. 2 (2011): Issue Feb 2011

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Ines Zendah
Rahma Cherif
Amel Khattab
Habib Ghedira

Abstract

Background : Asthma is a frequent pathology all over the world.
The patient well-being becomes an aim to achieve in th management of a patient with asthma. Thus, the factors affecting quality of life (QOL) in these patients should be determined.
Moreover, as QOL is affected by the socio-cultural and psychological context of each patient, QOL should be assessed in the country where the patient lives.
Aim: To determine the factors influencing QOL in our country: Tunisia: a Mediterranean, Arabic and developing country.
Methods: Eighty five adult patients with asthma were included prospectively. The questionnaire of the alteration of QOL in asthmatics in Tunisia (AQLAT) was used.
Results: QOL was moderately altered. The score didn’t differ between men and women and was not correlated with age. In students, the QOL was less altered than in non students. Patients with severe asthma had a significantly more altered QOL than those with mild to moderate asthma. Nevertheless, there was no correlation between the oldness of asthma and the AQLAT. Besides, the QOL didn’t differ in patients with controlled asthma and those with uncontrolled one.
Conclusion: A good analysis of the factors determining QOL is patients with asthma would allow a more efficient care of them.

Keywords:

Asthma, Asthma quality of life questionnaire, Control, Quality of life

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

References

  1. Rabe KF, Vermeire PA, Soriano JB, Maier WC. Clinical management of asthma in 1999: the Asthma Insights and Reality in Europe (AIRE) study. Eur Respir J 2000;16: 802-807.
  2. Juniper EF, Guyatt GH, Ferrie PJ, Griffith LE. Measuring quality of life in asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147: 832-38.
  3. Juniper EF, Guyatt GH, Epstein RS, Ferrie PJ, Jaeschke R, Hiller TK. Evaluation of impairment of health-related quality of life in asthma: development of a questionnaire for use in clinical trials. Thorax 1992; 47:76-83.
  4. Eisner C, Morse, R.A review of measures of quality of life for children with chronic illness. Arch Dis Child 2001;84:205-211.
  5. National Heart Lung, Blood Institute Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. J Aller Clin Immunol. 1991;88:435.
  6. Stewart AL, Hays RD, Ware JE. The MOS Short-form General Health Survey: reliability and validity in a patient population. Med Care. 1988; 26:724-32.
  7. Benzarti M, Mezghanni S, Jerray M, Garrouche A, Hayouni A. Etude de la qualité de vie chez une population tunisienne d'asthmatiques. Tunis Méd 2003;81:308-317.
  8. Stenberg B, Wall S. Why do females report sick buildings symptoms' more often than males? Proc Indoor Air 1993; 1: 399- 404.
  9. Belloch A, Perpiñá M, Martínez-Moragón E, de Diego A, Martínez-Francés M. Gender differences in health-related quality of life among patients with asthma. J Asthma. 2003; 40:945-53.
  10. Ehrs PO, Aberg H, Larsson K. Quality of life in primary care asthma. Respir Med 2001; 95:22-30.
  11. Mancuso CA, Peterson MGE, Charlson ME. Effects of Depressive Symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life in Asthma Patients J Gen Intern Med 2000; 15: 301-310.
  12. Ford ES, Mannino DM, Redd SC, Moriarty DG, Mokdad AH. Determinants of quality of life among people with asthma: findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. J Asthma 2004;41:327- 36.
  13. Kalpaklioglu AF, Baçioglu A. Evaluation of quality of life: impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2008;18:168-73.
  14. Plaza V, Serra-Batlles J, Ferrer M, Morejon E. Quality of life and economic features in elderly asthmatics. Respiration 2000; 67: 65-70.
  15. Schmier JK, Chan KS, Leidy NK. The impact of asthma on health related quality of life. J. Asthma 1988; 35: 585-97.
  16. Erickson SR, Christian Jr RD, Kirking DM, Halman LJ. Relationship between patient and disease characteristics, and health-related quality of life in adults with asthma 2002; 96: 450- 60.
  17. Weinert C, Burman, M. Rural health and health-seeking behaviors. Annual Revi Nurs Resear 1994;12: 65-92.
  18. Horner SD, Fouladi RT. Home asthma management for rural families. J Speci Pediatr Nurs 2006; 8: 52-61.
  19. Malo JL, Boulet LP, Dewihe JD et al. Clinical aspects of allergic disease: quality of life subjects with occupational asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1993; 91:1121-27.
  20. Juniper EF, Buist AS, the Study Group. Health-related quality of life in moderate asthma: 400 μg hydrofluoroalkane beclomethasone dipropionate vs 800 μg chlorofluorocarbon beclomethasone dipropionate. Chest 1999;116: 1297-1303.
  21. Chen H, Gould MK, Blanc PD, et al. for the TENOR Study Group. Asthma control, severity, and quality of life: quantifying the effect of uncontrolled disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;120:396-402.
  22. Pont LG, Van Der Molen T, Denig P, et al. Relationship between guideline treatment and health-related quality of life in asthma. Eur Respir J 2004; 23:718-22.
  23. Moy ML, Israel E, Weiss ST, Juniper EF, Dubé L, Drazen JM. Clinical predictors of health-related quality of life depend on asthma severity. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 163:924-29.
  24. Nouwen A, Freeston MH, Labbe R, Boulet LP: Psychological factors associated with emergency room visits among asthmatic patients. Behav Modif 1999;23:217-33.