Factors influencing quality of life in asthmatics--a case-control study

Health-related quality of life in adult patients with asthma according to asthma control and severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The utility values are increasingly being used in economic evaluations and health policy decision making. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the utility values for asthma, particularly with respect to severity and asthma control. Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for studies published until July, 2020, reporting the utilities of adult asthma. We extracted utility values derived by nine indirect and four direct utility instruments. Meta-analyses were performed for each utility instrument according to health states based on the level of asthma control and severity. Results: Fifty-two eligible studies were included in our systematic review, of which forty studies were used in the meta-analyses. Among the 13 utility instruments, the most used was EQ-5D-3L, whereas EQ-5D-5L showed the narrowest 95% confidence interval (95% CI, 0.83-0.86) of pooled utility. The pooled utility of asthma declined with worsening control levels and severity. The pooled utility value of EQ-5D-3L was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63-0.80) for uncontrolled, 0.82 (95% CI, 0.75-0.88) for partly controlled, and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.90) for well-controlled asthma. Conclusion: Our study shows that EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L are appropriate for economic evaluations in terms of availability and variability of information, respectively. Asthma patients had poorer utility values with worsened severity and level of asthma control. This study will be useful for health economists conducting economic evaluations of asthma treatments.

An Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients With Asthma Through Physical, Emotional, Social, and Occupational Aspects. A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Asthma is a prevalent hyperactive airway disease with physical and emotional impact. Severe asthma is associated with considerable health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life through physical, emotional, social and occupational aspects and evaluate the factors affecting HRQoL in patients with asthma.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional multicenter study conducted on adult asthmatic patients enrolled from community pharmacies across different Lebanese geographic areas.

Results

Having wheezing sometimes and most of the time (Beta = -0.144 and -0.552), experiencing anxiety sometimes and most of the time (Beta = -0.205 and -0.573), encountering sleep problems sometimes and most of the time (Beta = -0.270 and -0.553), having previous chest discomfort sometimes and most of the time (Beta = -0.421 and -0.713), and having depression most of the times (Beta = -0.415) were associated with higher lower quality of life scores. On the other side, holding a secondary level of education was associated with a higher quality of life score (Beta = 0.192).

Conclusion

This study highlights that asthma affects adults' quality of life through social, emotional, physical, and occupational impacts. Improved follow-up and patient education may be essential in the future to stop disease progression and achieve ideal therapeutic outcomes.

Effect of asthma control on general health-related quality of life in patients diagnosed with adult-onset asthma

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a well-established aspect of health that can be measured by both disease-specific and general instruments. The effect of uncontrolled asthma on generic HRQoL has not been shown in patients with clinically confirmed adult-onset asthma and with asthma control defined according to the Global Initiative for Asthma, so the aim of this study was to determine this. In the 12-year follow-up cohort of the Seinäjoki Adult Asthma Study (n = 203), patients with uncontrolled and partially controlled asthma had lower generic HRQoL as determined by 15D compared to the controlled group. On 10 out of 15 dimensions of 15D, the mean scores were significantly lower in patients with uncontrolled asthma compared with those with controlled asthma. The affected dimensions were mobility, breathing, sleeping, usual activities, mental function, discomfort and symptoms, depression, distress, vitality and sexual activity. In the Tobit regression analysis, a poorer 15D score was associated with uncontrolled asthma, lower postbronchodilator FEV₁, female sex, depression, treated dyspepsia and poorer 15D score at diagnosis. Our results show that uncontrolled asthma affects everyday life in several aspects, including previously unknown components such as sexual activity and vitality.

A systematic review of psychological, physical health factors, and quality of life in adult asthma

Asthma is a common non-communicable disease, often characterized by activity limitation, negative effects on social life and relationships, problems with finding and keeping employment, and poor quality of life. The objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature investigating the potential factors impacting quality of life (QoL) in asthma. Electronic searches were carried out on: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (initial search April 2017 and updated in January 2019). All primary research studies including asthma, psychological or physical health factors, and quality of life were included. Narrative synthesis was used to develop themes among findings in included studies in an attempt to identify variables impacting QoL in asthma. The search retrieved 43 eligible studies that were grouped in three themes: psychological factors (including anxiety and depression, other mental health conditions, illness representations, and emotion regulation), physical health factors (including BMI and chronic physical conditions), and multifactorial aspects, including the interplay of health and psychological factors and asthma. These were found to have a substantial impact on QoL in asthma, both directly and indirectly, by affecting self-management, activity levels and other outcomes. Findings suggest a complex and negative effect of health and psychological factors on QoL in asthma. The experience of living with asthma is multifaceted, and future research and intervention development studies should take this into account, as well as the variety of variables interacting and affecting the person.

The Relationship of Psychological Factors and Asthma Control to Health-Related Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Psychological variables (anxiety, depression, and coping strategies) and asthma control (assessed from the patient's perspective or from the physician's perspective) affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in asthmatic patients. However, no study has simultaneously evaluated these variables to understand the independent contribution of each one of these factors to HRQoL.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of anxiety, depression, coping strategies, and asthma control on HRQoL, and to compare the impact of asthma control on HRQoL when it is established by the physician versus when it is considered by the patient.

METHODS

A total of 373 asthmatics completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Inventory, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire. Asthma control was measured by the patient with Asthma Control Test and by the physician with the classification asthma control of Global Initiative for Asthma. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.

RESULTS

Anxiety, depression, and poor patient-rated asthma control status were associated with worse HRQoL in all dimensions (except Mental Health for asthma control). Physician-rated asthma control was related to worse HRQoL in physical generic and specific dimensions. Among coping strategies, only avoidant coping impacted HRQoL in a few dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety, depression, and asthma control (especially patient-rated asthma control) were important independent predictors of asthma HRQoL, and all of them should therefore be considered in interventions to improve HRQoL in asthmatic patients.

Health-related quality of life in asthma patients - A comparison of two cohorts from 2005 and 2015

INTRODUCTION

The aim was to investigate temporal variation in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) and factors influencing low HRQL, in patients with asthma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Questionnaire data on patient characteristics and the mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-AQLQ) scores from two separate cohorts of randomly selected Swedish primary and secondary care asthma patients, in 2005 (n = 1034) and 2015 (n = 1126). Student's t-test and analysis of covariance with adjustment for confounders compared mini-AQLQ total and domain scores in 2005 and 2015. Multivariable linear regression analyzed associations with mini-AQLQ scores.

RESULTS

The mean Mini-AQLQ scores were unchanged between 2005 and 2015 (adjusted means (95% CI) 2005: 5.39 (5.27-5.33) and in 2015: 5.44 (95% CI 5.32 to 5.38), p = 0.26). Overweight (regression coefficient 95% CI) (0.21 (-0.36 to -0.07)), obesity (-0.34 (-0,50 to -0.18)), one or more exacerbations during the previous six months (-0.64 (-0.79 to -0.50)), self-rated moderate/severe disease (-1.02 (-1.15 to -0.89)), heart disease (-0.42 (-0.68 to -0.16)), anxiety/depression (-0.31 (-0.48 to -0.13)) and rhinitis (-0.25 (-0.42 to -0.08)) were associated with lower HRQL. Higher educational level (0.32 (0.19-0.46)) and self-reported knowledge of self-management of exacerbations (0.35 (0.19-0.51)) were associated with higher HRQL.

CONCLUSIONS

HRQL in Swedish patients with asthma is generally good and unchanged during the last decade. Overweight, obesity, exacerbations, self-rated moderate/severe disease, heart disease, depression/anxiety and rhinitis were associated with lower HRQL, and high educational level and knowledge on self-management with higher HRQL.

The added effect of comorbidity on health-related quality of life in patients with asthma

PURPOSE

To examine the effect of comorbidities on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and their interaction with asthma control.

METHODS

In a random sample of adults with asthma, we measured generic (EQ5D) and disease-specific (AQ5D) utility scores. Asthma symptom control was determined using the 2014 Global Initiative for Asthma Management Strategy. Comorbidity scores were calculated using a validated questionnaire. We used two-part regression models to measure the adjusted difference in utility across levels of symptom control and comorbidity scores and to examine the relative role of symptom control and comorbidity in explaining the variation in HRQoL.

RESULTS

A total of 2,299 observations from 460 adult patients (mean age 52 years, 67 % women) were included. Compared to controlled asthma, uncontrolled asthma was associated with -0.018 reduction (95 % CI -0.028, -0.009) in EQ5D and -0.076 reduction (95 % CI -0.115, -0.052) in AQ5D utilities. An increase by one standard deviation in comorbidity score relative to the mean was associated with a change of -0.029 (95 % CI -0.043, -0.016) in EQ5D and -0.010 (95 % CI -0.020, -0.004) in AQLQ utilities. The impact of comorbidity was greater than asthma symptom control in explaining EQ5D variance (12 vs. 1 %) but smaller in explaining AQ5D variance (3 vs. 12 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Generic and disease-specific HRQoL instruments differentially capture the impact of symptom control and comorbidity in asthma. The selection of HRQoL instruments for asthma studies should depend on the prevalence of comorbidity in the target population and the impact of interventions on asthma control and comorbidity.

Utilities for asthma and COPD according to category of severity: a comprehensive literature review

BACKGROUND

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are incurable diseases that impact quality-of-life.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize original research articles that measured or utilized preference-based utilities or disutilities according to disease severity.

METHODS

Medline and Embase were searched from inception until the end of November 2014. Two reviewers independently searched the literature with differences settled through discussion. Data extracted included utility scores as determined in original research categorized according to disease severity as well as disutilities associated with exacerbations or comorbidities. Data were tabulated and analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

In total, 862 articles were identified, 790 were rejected, and 69 analyzed. There were 44 dealing with COPD and 25 with asthma. Average utilities determined by research were 0.828 ± 0.062, 0.765 ± 0.090, 0.711 ± 0.120, and 0.607 ± 0.120 for mild, moderate, severe, and very severe COPD, respectively. Utilities used in economic analyses were 0.866 ± 0.038, 0.770 ± 0.024, 0.739 ± 0.045, and 0.596 ± 0.075, respectively. Disutilities (annual) ranged from 0.002-0.378; major and minor exacerbations had respective disutilities of 0.287 and 0.108. For asthma patients, utilities were for 0.86 ± 0.32, 0.83 ± 0.065, and 0.74 ± 0.029, for mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Utilities have been summarized according to severity category of asthma and COPD. These values should be useful for researchers undertaking economic analyses of these diseases.

Asthma and smoking--healthcare needs and preferences of adults with asthma who smoke

OBJECTIVE

People with asthma smoke at least as much as, if not more than, people without asthma. The aim of this study was to explore the unique healthcare needs and preferences of smokers with asthma, in terms of smoking topography and initiation, perceived interplay between asthma and smoking, motivation and readiness to quit, and proposed smoking cessation techniques.

METHODS

Qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth telephone interviews with adult smokers who have concurrent asthma were conducted. Participants were recruited through flyers displayed at community pharmacies, general practice surgeries, university campuses, and respiratory clinics of tertiary hospitals and through an advertisement on the "Asthma Foundation" website. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using NVivo 10 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). Obtained data were content-analysed for emergent themes using the 'framework approach'.

RESULTS

Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted. Most participants believed that smoking often worsens their asthma and increases the frequency and severity of their symptoms. Fear of asthma-related exacerbations and poor self-control appeared to be the major triggers for quitting smoking. Most patients reported being motivated to quit smoking; however, in many cases, determination and strong will power need to be coupled with public, social, professional, and therapeutic support to achieve and maintain success.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the unique needs of people with asthma who smoke, it is imperative that evidence-based smoking cessation programs be designed and tailored to assist them in effectively quitting smoking.

Asthma from the patient's perspective

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic disease with considerable burden on health and economy. Despite growing knowledge about causes and treatment, many patients have uncontrolled asthma, activity and social limitations and reduced quality of life (QOL). Coping with asthma could be developed in a social and scientific context and influenced by personal experience.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the asthmatic's perspective on asthma and how coping mechanisms with this disease were influenced by health professionals and networks.

METHODS

Asthma and QOL questionnaires were sent to 1191 individuals, who had participated in a population-based clinical study in 2004. Of the 7271 responders (72.7%), 10 chronic asthmatics (4 males and 6 females) with different asthma severity grades were recruited to in-depth interviews. The results were interpreted according to selected theories, especially Antonovsky's salutogenic theory on how comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness contribute to sense of coherence and successful coping with stressor/disease.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Asthma comprehensibility was limited by both the lack of structured information about asthma diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and insufficient follow-up. The informants experimented with what worked and developed individual ways to accomplish satisfactory management. They adjusted their own medication and sometimes stopped prophylactic medicine as they did not detect an immediate effect. Many informants put their asthma into perspective, comparing it to what could have been worse. The unnoticeable development of asthma had probably triggered a gradual adaptation making it more complex for asthmatics to estimate severity. This together with their relative view of asthma might have led to gradual and uncritical accept of bothersome symptoms and reduced the need to seek professional advice or make important changes, e.g. eliminating exposure to irritating agents at work. Avoidance was a recurrent phenomenon as the asthmatics tended to drop physical activities with others instead of improving treatment. Several stated that they did not like to flash their asthma. They had concerns about being labelled as 'inadequate'. Physicians are urged to consider these tendencies and underlying the some of the mechanisms of 'living with asthma' in order to achieve proper asthma treatment and insure their patients' wellbeing.