Prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma and to compare it with that of adolescents without asthma.


METHODS
A transversal study using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, administered to adolescents with or without asthma, ranging from 14 to 16 years of age and randomly selected from schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.


RESULTS
The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with and without asthma was 20.4% (95% CI: 14.5-27.8%) and 9.0% (95% CI: 6.1-12.8%), respectively. Among adolescents with asthma, 56.6% (95% CI: 48.3-64.5%) presented normal scores, and 23.0% (95% CI 16.8-30.7%) presented borderline scores. Among adolescents without asthma, 75.0% (95% CI: 69.7-79.6%) presented normal scores, and 16.0% (95% CI: 12.2-20.7%) presented borderline scores. The median total score on the questionnaire was 14 and 12 among subjects with and without asthma, respectively (p < 0.01). In the final logistic regression model, adjusted for socioeconomic variables, the association between emotional/behavioral disorders and the following variables remained significant: being female (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.10-3.56; p = 0.02) and having asthma (OR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.52-4.64; p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders is higher in adolescents with asthma than in those without asthma, underscoring the need for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.
Alvim
Cristina Gonçalves
CG
Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine - Belo Horizonte, Brazil. rodtina@terra.com.br
Ricas
Janete
J
Camargos
Paulo Augusto Moreira
PA
Lasmar
Laura Maria Belizário de Lima Facury
LM
Andrade
Cláudia Ribeiro de
CR
Ibiapina
Cássio da Cunha
Cda C
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors