Introduction the relationship between asthma control and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult asthmatics is fairly established, but the unique contribution of atopy to this relationship has received less attention. The aim of this study was to quantify the contribution of atopy to this relationship. Methods in a cross-sectional study, we assessed HRQoL using mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Asthma control, atopy and lung function were assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), skin prick test and spirometry respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the association between of HRQol and asthma control, atopy and other clinical and demographical factors. Results eighty-two adult asthmatics (59 females), with median age of 44 years and median duration of asthma of 15 years were recruited from a tertiary hospital. Fifty-two (63%) were classified as atopic based on sensitization to at least one aeroallergen. The atopic individuals were younger and had better quality of life in activity domain; however, there was no significant difference between the atopic and non-atopic asthmatics in ACT score (19.0 vs 18.0) p=0.91, total AQLQ score (4.9 vs 4.6) p=0.22. The ACT scores correlated positively with total AQLQ scores [rho= 0.53, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.35, 0.67; p< 0.001]. However, atopy contributed significantly to the emotional domain of HRQoL score, p=0.028. Conclusion we concluded that better asthma control is associated with better quality of life and atopy contributed uniquely to emotional domain in health-related quality of life.

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Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the prevalence of high risk of OSA and investigated which anthropometric measure best predicts the OSA risk among patients attending a family practice clinic in a tertiary hospital. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of 362 consecutive patients (64% females; median age of 54 years). OSA risk was assessed by the Berlin Questionnaire and the patients were divided into two groups according to OSA risk: high and low risk. Anthropometric measurements were conducted as stated in the protocol established in the 3rd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: Out of 362 participants, 84 [23.2% (95% CI 19.0%, 28.0%)] had high risk of OSA. Subjects with a high risk of OSA had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio (24.9 vs 23.8, p = 0.002; 89.0 vs 84.0, p < 0.001; 95.0 vs 91.0, p < 0.001; 0.56 vs 0.52, p < 0.001, respectively). Body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio performed similarly in predicting high risk of OSA with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.661, 95% CI (0.592,0.730); 0.659, 95% CI (0.596,0.723); 0.668, 95% CI (0.604,0.733); 0.659 95% CI (0.592,0.725) respectively. The AUCs were similar when the analysis was restricted to those who were overweight. Conclusion: High risk of OSA is moderately prevalent in this population, with measures of central and abdominal adiposity equally predicting the risk.