Perceived triggers of asthma impair quality of life in children with asthma

Abstract

BackgroundData on the impact of the number and nature of perceived asthma triggers on health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in children are scarce.ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of perceived asthma triggers on both asthma‐specific and generic HRQL in children.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among children (7‐18 years) with asthma in secondary and tertiary care. Children were screened with electronic questionnaires regarding respiratory and allergic symptoms. Asthma‐specific HRQL was assessed using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) (score range 1‐7) and generic HRQL using the RAND questionnaire (score range 7‐32). The Kruskal‐Wallis test and one‐way ANOVA were used to test the difference of, respectively, the PAQLQ and RAND scores across the number of perceived asthma triggers (0, 1‐2, 3‐4, or ≥ 5). Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between individual triggers and HRQL.ResultsA total of 527 children with a mean (SD) age of 12.1 (2.9) years were included. Children with a higher number of perceived triggers had significantly lower PAQLQ and RAND scores (ie poorer HRQL). The difference in PAQLQ scores was clinically relevant between children with 0 versus 3‐4 or ≥ 5 triggers and 1‐2 versus ≥ 5 triggers (mean difference 0.66, 1.02 and 0.63, respectively). Especially, non‐allergic triggers (physical exercise, the weather, (cigarette) smoke and emotions) were significantly associated with reduced PAQLQ scores. Emotions and food/drinks were associated with reduced RAND scores.Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceA higher number of perceived triggers of asthma were associated with reduced HRQL in children with asthma. Especially, non‐allergic triggers were associated with reduced HRQL.

Exercise Limitation in Children and Adolescents With Severe Refractory Asthma: A Lack of Asthma Control?

“…Physical exercise is important to maintaining a high quality of life ( Kansen et al, 2019 ). Dantas et al (2014) evaluating the maternal perception of physical activity in adolescents with asthma, showed that 96% of mothers thought that physical activity was important.…”

“…Of the mothers evaluated, 37% said that they imposed restrictions on their children’s physical activities (sports/games) even during periods when the children were not suffering from asthma exacerbations. In individuals with asthma, FEV 1 , before or after bronchodilator use, does not correlate with VO 2 peak , the anaerobic threshold, or peripheral oxygen saturation ( Kansen et al, 2019 ). The respiratory system, at least in individuals with mild asthma, is able to respond adequately to the demands for increased airflow during high-intensity aerobic exercise.…”

“…The respiratory system, at least in individuals with mild asthma, is able to respond adequately to the demands for increased airflow during high-intensity aerobic exercise. That means that patients with asthma become less able and therefore less likely to become physically active and reach their maximum potential ( Kansen et al, 2019 ).…”

Developments allergy in 2019 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Part II clinical allergy

“…Lastly, on a slightly different note, Kansen and colleagues have looked at asthma triggers amongst children referred for secondary care the number of allergic and non-allergic asthma triggers were strongly associated with quality of life. 77 The study emphasises the importance of considering triggers and providing amelioration where possible. It also underlines the importance of knowing the atopic status of children and the importance of possible atopic triggers.…”

Fatal asthma: Learning from tragedies

“…Kansen et al have looked at the impact of triggers on quality of life in childhood asthma . A total of 527 children aged 7 to 18 years were included, they were treated in secondary or tertiary care.…”