title: The impact of psychological distress on functional disability in asthma: results from the Canadian community health survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is associated with decreased health-related quality of life and increased physical comorbidity and mortality, high rates of clinic visits and hospitalizations, and loss of productivity in the workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to determine the joint effect of psychological distress and asthma on functional disability in a community sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used data from The Canadian Community and Health Survey (N=62,274). Psychological distress was measured by the 10-item Kessler (K-10) instrument. Asthma, disability days, self-assessed health status, and long-term reduction in activities were assessed by personal interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of functional disability was higher in subjects with asthma and comorbid psychological distress than in individuals with either asthma or psychological distress alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detecting and managing psychological problems might be particularly beneficial for persons with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3 Canada. norbert.schmitz@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: JianLi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malla
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesage
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve