title: Asthma control and quality of life in patients with moderate or severe asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between degree of asthma control and health-related quality of life in patients with moderate or severe asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive observational study involving 59 outpatients with moderate or severe asthma under treatment at the Asthma Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of Ceará Walter Cantídio University Hospital, in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. The patients were evaluated regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as spirometric parameters. The asthma control status was assessed using the asthma control test (ACT), and quality of life was assessed using the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 55.0 ± 12.4 years, and 76.3% were female. The ACT score showed statistically significant negative correlations with all SGRQ scores: total (r = -0.72); symptoms (r = -0.78); activity (r = -0.67); and impact (r = -0.68). Multiple regression analysis showed that the most robust predictive variables for SGRQ total score were ACT score (coefficient = -3.18; 95% CI: -4.14 to -2.23) and duration of disease (coefficient = -0.29; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.03). The ACT score also explained the linear variation of the SGRQ domains: symptoms (coefficient = -3.41; 95% CI: -4.45 to -2.37); activity (coefficient = -3.07; 95% CI: -4.57 to -1.57); and impact (coefficient = -2.68; 95% CI: -3.71 to -1.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of asthma control appears to have a significant impact on health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. eanes@fortalnet.com.br
authors.forename: Eanes Delgado Barros
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Antonio George de Matos
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Eduardo Nolla Silva
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Marcelo Alcântara
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Holanda
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life