The Influence of Asthma Exacerbations on Health-Related Quality of Life.
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of asthma on the quality of life (QoL) of patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of the disease and those with controlled asthma receiving outpatient treatment, and to establish the patients' somatic status and the level of health care utilization. This study involved 239 adults with asthma (123 hospitalized patients and 116 outpatients of family physicians). The authors used: WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and a questionnaire measuring health care utilization. There were no differences in QoL levels between the patients with severe and controlled asthma. The psychological domain was assessed higher by hospitalized patients (p = 0.02). QoL levels correlated negatively with age, place of residence, and marital status, and positively with education. The general QoL level was most strongly influenced by gender, age, education, the number of home visits and interventions of a district nurse, and the somatic index (p < 0.05). Somatic symptoms were more severe in hospitalized patients. The QoL assessment of asthma patients in relation to somatic symptoms, health care services and socio-demographic variables allows better understanding of the complex health situation of patients at various stages of the disease, and tailoring the therapy to individual needs. Patients receiving outpatient treatment require professional psychotherapeutic support.
Department of Humanities in Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, 11 Chlapowskiego St, 71-204, Szczecin, Poland. b_mroczek@data.pl.|Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, 48 Zolnierska St, 70-204, Szczecin, Poland. b_mroczek@data.pl.
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Mroczek
Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 1 Syrokomli St, 51-141, Wroclaw, Poland.|Public Higher Medical Professional School, 68 Katowicka St, 45-060, Opole, Poland.
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Kurpas
Wielkopolskie Center of Pulmonolodgy and Toracic Surgey, Eugenia and Janusz Zeylandow, 62 Smarzewskiego St, 60-569, Poznan, Poland.|Chodziez Hospital (branch), 32 Strzelecka St, 64-800, Chodziez, Poland.
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Urban
Specialistic Hospital Named After Professor Alfred Sokolowski in Szczecin Zdunowo, 11A Sokolowski St, 70-891, Szczecin, Poland.
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Sitko
Specialistic Hospital Named After Professor Alfred Sokolowski in Szczecin Zdunowo, 11A Sokolowski St, 70-891, Szczecin, Poland.|Departament of Toracic Surgery and Transplantology, 11A Sokołowski St, 70-891, Szczecin, Poland.
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Grodzki
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006701:Home Nursing; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Asthma; Health care services; Health education; Somatic symptoms; WHOQOL-BREF