Comparative assessment of the quality life of children with bronchial asthma in different age groups.

Abstract

The purpose of the study: assessment of quality of life indicators and their impact on life parameters in children aged 6–17 years with bronchial asthma. Materials and methods. The study was performed using the Russian version of the SF‑36 questionnaire, which was filled out by children with bronchial asthma of younger age (6–14 years old) with their parents, older age (15–17 years old), independently. The survey was conducted among 408 children (6–17 years old) on the basis of the pulmonology department of the Republican Children’s Clinical Hospital and children’s polyclinics of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The average age in the sample is 13.0 years, of which 76.2% are boys, 23.8% are girls. A comparative analysis of quality of life indicators was carried out in four age groups: 6–8 years (12.3%), 9–11 years (16.7%), 12–14 years (28.2%), 15–17 years (42.8%). The average values and the standard deviation (M±SD) were determined. The processing of the obtained data was carried out using the SPSS application software package (vers. 21). Results. According to the design of the study, the assessment of the health status of children was carried out in different age groups from 6 to 17 years old. The most unsatisfactory assessments of their health were revealed in three older age groups, especially pronounced at the age of 12–14 years. At the same time, half of the surveyed children (50.2%) did not improve their health during the year and more than 8% of them began to feel worse. It was revealed that bronchial asthma affects the parameters of quality of life: the physical and psychological condition of children suffers, their social adaptation is disrupted. With equal indicators of these components in girls, boys have a slightly higher physical component than the mental one. When comparing the age groups, a more significant violation of the mental component of the quality of life with the age of children was revealed. The largest number of children with bronchial asthma (31.1%) experience significant limitations during heavy physical exertion. A direct correlation has been revealed between the increase in difficulty with physical exertion and their performance in a smaller volume with age. According to the evaluation scales, the total indicators of the quality of life of children with bronchial asthma are interpreted unambiguously, low, and amount to slightly more than 47 points. Older children who have pronounced negative symptoms and need correction of therapeutic and preventive measures require special attention. At the same time, the existing complex problems in the organization of effective dispensary monitoring of children with bronchial asthma are being updated. Conclusion. The obtained quantitative measures of the health of children suffering from bronchial asthma indicate a low level of quality of life for patients in all age groups. For the identified risk groups, a full-fledged individual monitoring of the condition of patients should be organized in the polyclinic link of children’s healthcare in the region with the development of targeted rehabilitation programs to improve and preserve the health of children with bronchial asthma. This approach will provide additional information about the child’s condition and will help improve treatment outcomes. Taking into account the results obtained, it is necessary to continue further studies of the quality of life in children suffering from bronchial asthma.