RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Health related quality of life and sense of coherence in adolescents with asthma
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p4079
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Kerstin Sundell Bergström
A1 Sten-Erik Bergström
A1 Gunilla Hedlin
A1 Alf Tunsäter
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4079.abstract
AB Aim: To prospectively study adolescents with asthma in transition from child to adult with respect to Health Related quality of life “HRQOL” and Sense of Coherence “SOC”.Method: Teenagers with asthma (n=156) were screened employing spirometry, bronchial challenge, skin prick test and exercise test at the time of referral and after five years. They completed the “Living with Asthma Questionnaire” and the Sense of Coherence “SOC” instrument. Patients with mild-to-moderate asthma were assigned randomly to an adult asthma clinic or to primary care.Results: At both time-points the HRQOL of the men was better than that of the women (p<0.001). HRQOL improved for both men and women. Lung function, atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness did not exert any impact on HRQOL or SOC. However poor adherence to the recommended asthma treatment was associated with lower HRQOL (OR= 0.29; 95% CI= 0.11-0.73; P<0.01). Young women who exercised regularly exhibited better HRQOL than those who did not (p<0.001). Only women with severe asthma demonstrated a poorer HRQOL. Over the five year period the men showed a significant stronger SOC compared to the women (p<0.05). Lung function and HRQOL remain stable regardless of the randomization to an asthma clinic or to primary care,Conclusion: The HRQOL of adolescents with asthma improves with age. Young men with asthma have stronger SOC compared to young women. Adolescents with mild-to-moderate asthma receive appropriate care in the primary care system. The negative impact of poor adherence to asthma treatment on HRQOL emphasizes the importance of healthcare programs including patient education and support for adolescents with asthma and with special attention to young women.