title: Association of anxiety with asthma: subjective and objective outcome measures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between anxiety and asthma is currently being intensively studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors examined anxiety that influences and is influenced by this complex disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of adults with asthma at a hospital outpatient department, excluding known psychiatric patients. A sample of 195 patients, mostly middle-aged women with moderate/severe asthma, underwent pulmonary function and airway-inflammation tests and were given anxiety rating questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high level of anxiety was present in 70% of the patients. Anxiety was associated with worse subjective asthma outcomes and increased use of medication/healthcare services, but with decreased airway inflammation, and was not associated with lung function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety seems to influence patients' perception/awareness of asthma symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of S. João, Faculty of Medicine, Univ. of Oporto, Porto, Portugal. liapnsf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Altamiro Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Marianela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Graça
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Branco
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires