Association of depression and anxiety with health care use and quality of life in asthma patients

• Published in: Respiratory medicine 2007-03, Vol.101 (3), p.638-644
• Main Authors: Kullowatz, Antje, Kanniess, Frank, Dahme, Bernhard, Magnussen, Helgo, Ritz, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Asthma; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Corticosteroid intake; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - psychology; Female; Health care use; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Primary Health Care; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Severity of Illness Index; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2006.06.002

Summary Introduction Demographic factors, symptom severity, and psychopathology, in particular anxiety and depression, are known to influence health care use and quality of life in asthma. Because depression and anxiety are typically correlated, we sought to explore whether depression specifically is associated with health care utilization and quality of life when effects of anxiety are controlled for. Method In a cross-sectional questionnaire study, 88 asthma patients (46 women; age range 27–70 years) reported on symptoms and treatment of their disease, as well as anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), general quality of life (Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire, SF-12) and asthmatic-specific quality of life (Living with Asthma, LAQ). Results While no considerable associations between anxiety and health care use were found, the associations between higher scores in depression and hospital visits as well as days of corticosteroid intake were significant. Furthermore, considerable variance in all subscales of quality of life questionnaires was explained by higher scores in depression, even when controlling for anxiety. For anxiety scores these associations were comparable, except for physical well-being. Conclusion Depression is an important issue in asthma, as it is substantially related to quality of life and intake of corticosteroids, and marginally to hospitalization. Routine screening for depression should be considered in hospital and primary care.