Influence of sociodemographics on the health-related quality of life of pediatric patients with asthma and their caregivers

The relationship between socioeconomic variables and the health-related quality of life (HQL) of children with asthma and their caregivers was examined. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and Pediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ) were administered to 99 pediatric asthmatic patients and caregivers in two specialty clinics. Sociodemographic data was obtained from medical records and additional questions. The relationship between sociodemographic variables and HQL was determined using multiple linear regression. The mean patient age was 12.6 +/- 2.1 years; more were male and from a minority race. The mean age of caregivers was 41.2 +/- 8.5 years; most were female and were from a minority race. Patients tended to rate their asthma severity as mild to moderate, while caregivers tended to rate patients in the moderate to severe category. Based on prescribed medications, most patients had mild to moderate asthma. Household income was consistently associated with patient-perceived HQL. Less consistent associations were seen with other variables. Household income and the caregiver's perception of asthma severity were associated with all caregiver HQL domains. It it-as concluded that household income was most consistently associated with the HQL of asthmatic pediatric patients and their caregivers.