[Evaluation of quality of life in children with bronchial asthma].
Asthma affects children physically, psychologically and socially. The quality of life is a subjective parameter that evaluates the impact of asthma on daily life of the child. The authors evaluated the evolution of the quality of life score in children with persistent asthma treated with controllers, during one year, and the correlation between the quality of life score and pulmonary function parameters. The evaluation of the quality of life was based on a questionnaire with 23 items (PA QLQ), which was applied on 64 children with asthma. The quality of life score was evaluated initially and every 3 months. Pulmonary function tests were measured by spirometry every 3 months and children recorded PEF twice daily At the end of the study the authors revealed the improvement of the quality of life score in 87% of children. Initially the value of the general score of quality of life was of 4.78 +/- 1.09 and it increased up to 6.53 +/- 0.56 (p = 0.0001) after 12 months. We noticed significant improvement of the scores for symptoms, activities and emotions, and also of circadian variation of PEF (p = 0.002). We revealed a relatively poor reverse correlation between general score of the quality of life and circadian variation of PEF (r = - 0.330). In conclusion, the evaluation of quality of life might appreciate the clinical course of asthma patients. Based on this results the authors suggest the use of the evaluation of the quality of life as a complementary method to the classical methods used for asthma monitoring in children.
Clinica Pediatrie III, U.M.F. luliu Haţieganu, Cluj-Napoca.
Claudia-Felicia
CF
Pop
Paraschiva
P
Cherecheş-Panţa
M V
MV
Nanulescu
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires