Quality of life in children with undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics Vol. 166; no. 8; pp. 843 - 848
• Main Authors: VAN GENT, Rene, VAN ESSEN, Liesbeth E. M, ROVERS, Maroeska M, KIMPEN, Jan L. L, VAN DER ENT, Cornelis K, DE MEER, Gea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.08.2007; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers - psychology; Child; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Quality of Life; Respiratory Function Tests; Saline Solution, Hypertonic; Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires; Human; Lung disease; Pediatrics; Respiratory disease; Bronchus disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Diagnosis; Children; Child; Asthma; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0340-6199; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-006-0358-y

This study describes the impact of undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma on quality of life in schoolchildren aged 7-10 years and their caregivers in a cross-sectional community-based study. Diagnosed asthma was defined as the parents' confirmation of a physician's diagnosis of asthma. Undiagnosed asthma was defined by asthma symptoms combined with airway reversibility or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Quality of life was evaluated in all children with asthma and a sample of healthy controls by the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and by the Paediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire. We studied the impact of breathing problems on school absence. Compared with healthy controls, quality of life scores among children and their caregivers were lower if the child had asthma (P < 0.05), with lowest scores in diagnosed asthma (P < 0.05 compared with undiagnosed asthma). Children with asthma reported more school absence (P < 0.05), with highest absence rate in those with diagnosed asthma. In conclusion, both undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma have a significant impact on the quality of life of both children and their caregivers.