[Social conditions in the daily life of asthmatic patients].
To investigate the social conditions in the daily lives of asthmatic patients in Japan, a nationwide survey was performed using a questionnaire compiled by a joint research group and conducted by The national hospital treatment joint research group and The national sanatorium central research group. This study was carried out on 3,331 patients with childhood asthma and 4,398 patients with adulthood asthma in 1995. The results were as follows. (1) More than half of the asthmatic patients had been admitted to hospital at least once. (2) When experiencing an asthmatic attack, more than 80% of patients had difficulties with daily activities. Even when not experiencing an asthmatic attack, 14% of patients with childhood asthma and 40% of patients with adulthood asthma had difficulties with daily activities. The frequency of difficulties in daily life increased when the asthma was more severe or the patient was elderly. (3) More than 60% of adulthood patients felt that there were obstacles to their hopes or plans in life. The frequency of obstacles increased in patients with more severe asthma and in more elderly patients. (4) Fifteen percent of adult patients experienced work disabilities due to asthma (giving up work, changing job, leaving school, changing their school). (5) Because of asthmatic attacks, 64% of child patients and 49% of adult patients needed to take at least one day off. The outcome of this survey highlighted the condition of asthmatic patients in Japan. During the treatment of asthma, not only control of asthmatic attacks but also the social conditions of the patients in their daily lives should be considered and addressed.
Sato
T
T
Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Okayama Medical Center, 1711-1, Tamasu, Okayama, 701-1192, Japan.
Akiyama
K
K
Takahashi
K
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012924:Social Conditions; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires