Avaliação da saúde mental e da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de crianças brasileiras com asma

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that affects millions of children and adolescents, being considered the most common chronic disease in childhood. The treatment of asthma is usually effective for most symptoms, but this does not mean that the patient will not suffer any influence in his daily life because he is a carrier of this chronic disease. Respiratory symptoms, sleep impairment, and school absenteeism are some of the reasons that may hinder the healthy development of the patient, which is in the middle of a crucial stage of life for proper emotional development. For a comprehensive treatment of the asthmatic patient, one should evaluate how the limitations and symptoms of the disease interfere in mental health, since emotional effects also influence asthma. Psychological disorders have been little studied in children with asthma. Objective: To evaluate the mental health and quality of life of children diagnosed with asthma in outpatient care. Methods: A prospective crosssectional study was conducted with children and adolescents with asthma between the ages of 7 and 17 years, in outpatient follow-up. Questionnaires were used to assess anxiety (SCARED), depression (CDI), difficulties (SDQ) and health-related quality of life (PAQLQ). Results: 33 children participated in the study. The mean age was 11.3 ± 2.6, with 60.6% of females. 24.2% of the children presented scores suggestive of depression, but only 9.1% of the parents reported a perception of this disorder. The scores assessed for anxiety were elevated for the five domains and for the total score, but showed very similar scores and no statistical differences when compared with control of disease (p = 0.153, 0.287, 0.539, 0.503, 0.490 and 0.122, consecutively ). 87.9% reported abnormal scores on abilities and difficulties (SDQ), according to parents' perception, with the main limitations being the domains of emotional problems (57.6%). In the assessment of asthma-related health-related quality of life (PAQLQ) correlating domains and total scores between the controlled and uncontrolled asthma groups, the scores demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the increase in ACT/C-ACT score and increased domain scores and total PAQLQ scores. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression appear to be common disorders in children with asthma. The evaluation of abilities and difficulties indicated a high index of abnormal values. Parents' perceptions are not consistent with the children's reports regarding symptoms of depression, but they show a greater similarity to the symptoms of anxiety. The high rates of interference in the mental health of children with asthma require greater attention to psychological aspects in the follow-up of these patients.