Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in children with bronchial asthma and their caregivers at a teaching institution: A cross-sectional study

Background and Objectives:Bronchial asthma is a chronic childhood disease with frequent exacerbations of varying severity. The quality of life (QOL) of children and their caregivers can be affected due to comorbidities, restriction in physical activity and social interactions, and school absenteeism. Globally, there is a predisposition toward clinic-based asthma management by primary care physicians. A primary physician's awareness of the QOL would help in long-term management for better asthma control. This study was performed to assess the QOL among asthmatic children and their caregivers using Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and Pediatric Asthma Caregivers Quality of Life Questionnaire.Materials and Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 children and their caregivers using respective questionnaires. Scores related to individual domains of symptoms, activity limitation, and emotional function were calculated.Results:Well-controlled asthma was noted in 63.3%, partly controlled in 21.7%, and uncontrolled in 15%. Scores in all domains and the total QOL score in children were lower and correlated negatively with poor control of asthma. The mean (SD) total quality of life score was 4.3 (0.8) in well-controlled patients, 2.7 (0.4) in partly controlled, and 1.8 (0.2) in uncontrolled asthmatic children. QOL scores of children and their caregivers highly correlated with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.73 and a P value of < 0.001.Conclusions:Our study showed impairment in HRQOL in asthmatic children and their caregivers. Domains of symptoms and emotions were more affected than the activity domain. Emotional scores were maximally affected. Children with partly controlled and uncontrolled asthma have more impaired HRQOL. Poor control of asthma in children showed marked impairment in HRQOL of their caregivers. Better scores for activity domain in children were attributed to regular follow-up, education regarding overcoming exercise-induced symptoms, proper inhaler technique, and medication adherence. As most children with asthma tend to be seen by primary care physicians, we recommend interventions to improve QOL with psychological support, behavioral modification, and counseling in children and their caregivers at a primary care level.