Correlation between asthma-related quality of life and asthma controls in adult asthmatics

Asthma has a multiface nature that results in a functional and emotional impairments.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate relationship between the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) in adult asthmatics.

 

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 91 patients (72 female, 19 male; mean age 35.91 yrs) included in this prospective study. Patients were followed-up for 3 months. They were completed the ACT and ACQ in order to assess disease control and AQLQ at 2 physician visits. Pulmonary function was measured in each visit and asthma specialist rated asthma control and decided for treatment according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) quideline.

RESULTS: Uncontrolled patient ratio was 79% (72/91) before treatment. Significant decreases to the 26 % (24/91) has been shown with the 3 months asthma medication according to GINA guideline (p<0.05). After 3 months regular treatment,  statistically significant improvement was detected  for ACQ, ACT, AQLQ and FEV1% levels (p<0.01). ACQ and AQLQ total score are strongly correlated both before (r=-,733; p= 0.01) and after treatment (r=-,781; p=0.01) periods of time. In addition, strong correlation were detected between both ACQ and ACT with all domains of the AQLQ. FEV1 is mildy correlated with AQLQ (r=0.391; p<0.001). No difference was detected for ACT, ACQ, AQLQ and %FEV1 parameters between patients with unregular treatment with controlled medication drugs and without any medication for asthma in the previous history. Three months later from prescribed convenient asthma medication, much more improvement has been shown in the quality of life and control levels in the previousy untreated group. But only 37% of the patients were achieved as a totally controlled.

CONCLUSION: In our study, AQLQ parameters are very well correlated with both ACT and ACQ but not with FEV1. Twenty six % of the patiens are still uncontrolled after 3 months treatment. Patient compliance to maintenance therapy in asthmatics is very poor. Therefore,   patients should be followed during treatment accompanied by education programs to improve patients compliance. Besides that, quality of life and asthma controls should be taken into consideration during the follow-up for optimum management of the patients.