Emotional quality-of-life and outcomes in adolescents with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between emotional quality-of-life (QOL) and asthma morbidity in adolescents with asthma.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of 185 adolescents with asthma 11 to 17 years of age cared for in three managed care organizations (MCOs) in the United States. The asthma-specific Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and a short version of the generic Child Health and Illness Profile-Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE) were used to assess emotional QOL. Asthma morbidity measures were: asthma control, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, doctor visits for worsening asthma, and missed school because of asthma.

RESULTS: Of the adolescents surveyed, 45% reported feeling depressed, 41% had ED visits, and 30% missed >or=1 day of school because of asthma. Poorer asthma-specific emotional QOL was associated with poorer control of asthma symptoms ( P < .0001), missed school (OR 7.1, P < .05), and doctor visits for worsened asthma (OR = 7.0, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Emotional symptoms related to asthma are common in adolescents with persistent asthma and asthma-specific QOL is related to increased asthma morbidity, healthcare use, and school absenteeism. Adolescents with high morbidity from asthma exhibit poorer QOL. Therefore, the evaluation of asthma-specific emotional QOL should be included in the assessment of adolescents with asthma.