Determinants of Low Quality of Life in Asthmatic Adult Patients in South of Jordan
Eman Albataineh1*, Enas Al-Zayadneh2, Mohammad Ahmad Abu- Lubad3, Areej Altarawneh4 and Ibrahim Aldmour51Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
2Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Jordan
3Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Mutah University, Faculty of Medicine, Karak, Jordan
4Albasheer Hospital, Amman, Jordan
5Al-Karak Governmental Hospital, Al-Karak, Jordan
Corresponding Author E-mail: emanbatayneh@yahoo.com
Abstract: Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the patients’ way of life, as it can cause significant Physical, mental and social problems. It is, therefore, important to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of the asthmatic patients in order to assist them in managing this condition. Aim of the work: The aim of this study was to investigate the QoL determinants in asthmatic adult patients and to identify any differences between the four domains of QoL, namely symptoms, limitations in daily activities, emotional, and exposure to environmental stimuli. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional, questionnaire- based survey was conducted among 93 patients with asthma (aged 14−71) recruited by general practitioners and chest physicians. In addition, all participants completed a demographic questionnaire. Asthma-related QoL was assessed using Juniper Mini-AQLQ (1999), whereas the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) was employed when determining asthma control. The differences between mean values were evaluated via the student’s t-test or ANOVA test. To quantify the relationship between asthma control and QoL, parametric Pearson correlations were calculated. The binary logistic regression model was adopted to analyze dichotomous variables according to predictor variables. In addition, independent variables with p < 0.05 were included in a multiple linear regression model in order to identify the factors that best predict low QoL scores. Only statistically significant variables (p < 0.05) were retained in the final model. Results: The median patient age was 40.5 years (range = 14−71 years), and 36.6% of patients were male. The mean total QoL score was 3.28±1.56 (3.39 for males and 3.08 for females, p = 0.113), while the mean scores for individual QoL domains were 3.98±1.68 (activity domain), 2.93±1.81 (symptoms domain), 3.39±1.66 (emotional domain), and 2.81±1.86 (environmental domain). Well-controlled asthma and being non-atopic significantly correlated with a higher total AQLQ score, as well as individual scores for the four QoL domains, while age ≤ 55 years correlated with higher total AQLQ and scores on all domains except for the emotional domain. There was a significant association between Allergic Rhinitis (AR) disease and low AQLQ and two (environmental and symptoms) of the four domains. Poorer overall quality of life was recorded in atopic paients sensitive to olive pollens (p < 0.05). Unfortunately, taking treatment, especially ICS, was associated with low QoL scores across all four domains. The factors that best predict poor QoL were positive allergy test (B = -0.203; 95% CI = -0.413−0.007; p = 0.05), bad Asthma Control Test (ACT) (B = -0.164; 95% CI = -0.279−0.048; p < 0.001) and taking ICS (B = -0.192; 95% CI = -0.373−-0.011; p < 0.001).
Keywords: Asthma; Quality of life domains; Quality of life Back to TOC