Fitzpatrick AM, Diani B, Kavalieratos D, Corace EA, Mason C, Van Dresser M, Grunwell JR. Poorer Caregiver Mental and Social Health Is Associated With Worse Respiratory Outcomes in Preschool Children With Recurrent Wheezing.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2023;
11:1814-1822. [PMID:
36868472 PMCID:
PMC10258161 DOI:
10.1016/j.jaip.2023.02.023]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Mental and social health in caregivers of preschool children has been inadequately studied, but it may influence respiratory symptom recognition and management.
OBJECTIVE
To identify preschool caregivers at highest risk for poor mental and social health outcomes on the basis of patient-reported outcome measures.
METHODS
Female caregivers 18 to 50 years old (N = 129) with a preschool child aged 12 to 59 months with recurrent wheezing and at least 1 exacerbation in the previous year completed 8 validated patient-reported outcome measures of mental and social health. k-means cluster analysis was performed using the T score for each instrument. Caregiver/child dyads were followed for 6 months. Primary outcomes included caregiver quality of life and wheezing episodes in their preschool children.
RESULTS
Three clusters of caregivers were identified: low risk (n = 38), moderate risk (n = 56), and high risk (n = 35). The high-risk cluster had the lowest life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, and emotional support and the highest social isolation, depression, anger, perceived stress, and anxiety that persisted for more than 6 months. This cluster had the poorest quality of life and marked disparities in social determinants of health. Preschool children from caregivers in the high-risk cluster had more frequent respiratory symptoms and a higher occurrence of any wheezing episode, but a lower outpatient physician utilization for wheezing management.
CONCLUSIONS
Caregiver mental and social health is associated with respiratory outcomes in preschool children. Routine assessment of mental and social health in caregivers is warranted to promote health equity and improve wheezing outcomes in preschool children.
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