The Association between Asthma Control and Mental Health in Asthma Patients

Abstract

Background Asthma is a chronic disease that results from complex interactions between multiple environmental and genetic factors. A bi-directional relation is proposed between level of asthma control and mental health. The present study evaluates this relation and investigates the factors associated with either, among Syrian asthmatic patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 asthmatic patients who were attending pulmonology clinics in two central hospitals in Damascus. Patients were requested to fill out the ACT (Asthma Control Test) and GHQ-12 (the 12-item General Health Questionnaire) questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square test in SPSS version 26. Results We found no significant correlation between ACT and GHQ-12 categories (p = 0.071). More than two-thirds of patients expressed severe psychological problems unassociated to their level of asthma control. Sex had no effect on asthma control nor mental health. However, age was a substantial determinant; as 79.5% of middle-aged patients had uncontrolled asthma (p = 0.040), and from mental health aspect; almost 50% of young patients had severe psychological distress and more than third had evidence of distress (p = 0.007). On the other hand, smoking had no significant impact on ACT nor GHQ-12 scores. Patients with controlled asthma mostly lived in rural areas likewise most patients with severe psychological distress; hence, residence had a crucial influence on both ACT and GHQ-12 scores (p = 0.003, p = 0.056 respectively). Conclusion Results of this study show no correlation between asthma control and mental health. Factors that affect both scores include patient’s age and place of residence. This indicates several cofactors influencing asthmatic patients’ general health beside their asthma control level, which must be considered in clinical approach.