title: Risk factors affecting quality of life in a group of Italian children with asthma.
abstract: The measure of Quality of Life (QoL) has become one of the most important criteria used to assess the impact of chronic illness, such as asthma, on the patients daily life, in adults and children alike. The objective of our open observational study was to measure the QoL and analyze several factors that potentially affect QoL, such as symptoms and functional respiratory parameters, in a cohort of children with asthma. One hundred and twenty-seven children with asthma, 6 to 14 years of age, living in the city of Rome, were enrolled as outpatients. They were subjected to Skin Prick Tests (SPT), underwent spirometry and filled out the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ). One hundred and eleven children were diagnosed with intermittent asthma, 12 (10&#x0025;) with mild asthma, and four with moderate persistent asthma. Ninety-six children had a positive SPT. The mean total score of QoL, obtained from the questionnaire, was 5.4 (&#x2213;1.2 SD). Two QoL groups were created. Children with total QoL score <5.5 were included in the Lower QoL score group while children with total QoL score &#8805; 5.5 were included in the Higher QoL score group. Children in the Higher group and their mothers had a higher mean age, suffered from fewer asthma exacerbations during the year preceding the study, and showed a higher mean value of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) compared to the children in the Lower category. Using Logistic regression we identified the main factors that may affect QoL as FEV1, symptoms in the previous year and mothers age. QoL is correlated with the frequency of asthma exacerbations and FEV1 values. Furthermore, our research shows that a significant impairment of QoL may also occur in patients with normal lung function, pointing out the importance of evaluating QoL in all children with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Indinnimeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanit&#x00E0;, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarotti
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Vittori
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Psychology of the Processes of Development and Socialization, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, Umberto 1 Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012384:Rome; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult