Quality of life protocol in the early asthma diagnosis in children.

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is considered an important problem in children and influences on their everyday functioning. This study was concerned with the impact of asthma on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of newly recognized pediatric asthma patients and their parents.

METHODS

Patients were identified by a general respiratory survey. HRQOL was assessed by self-report measures: disease-specific questionnaire for children, the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and generic for parents-the Quality of Life in Child's Chronic Disease Questionnaire (QLCCDQ).

RESULTS

Twenty-nine newly diagnosed asthmatic children aged 7-11 years (mean age = 8.6; SD = 1.4) were identified from a population-based respiratory health survey. The most impaired HRQOL domains differed in parents and children. In children, activity limitation was the most impaired; however in parents, emotional functioning and symptom perception domains were most impaired. There were no statistically significant differences in patient and parental HRQOL observed in either the group where symptoms were present or in the group were symptoms were not present. Baseline spirometry showed correlation for FEV(1)%FVC and PAQLQ symptom domain (r = 0.42). Exercise test showed correlations between FEV(1)%FVC and QLCCDQ emotional domain (r = 0.7); MEF 25-75% and family roles (r = 0.81), as well as social functioning (r = 0.81). Activity limitation on the PAQLQ correlated with the MEF 25-75% (r = 0.44) and PEF (r = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

HRQOL newly recognized children with asthma and their parents does not correlate closely with clinical status. Patient and parental HRQOL should be considered as independent dimensions.