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Relationship between pediatric asthma and psychosocial status of caregivers
Dunibel Morillo-Vanegas1, Pablo Sanchez-Salcedo2, Antonio Francisco Sebastián Ariño3
1Ernest Lluch Hospital, Respiratory Medicine Consultant, Calatayud, 1 Alemania St. 20, Cuarte de Huerva, Zaragoza, 50410, Spain.
Insights
Psychosocial disorders in caregivers, including anxiety and depression, are common in children with asthma. These conditions are linked to poorer asthma control, suggesting early intervention may improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood asthma affects millions globally, with complex contributing factors.
- Caregiver mental health is increasingly recognized as a potential influence on pediatric health outcomes.
- Understanding the interplay between caregiver psychosocial well-being and childhood asthma is crucial for comprehensive management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between psychosocial disorders in caregivers and the control status of childhood asthma.
- To identify specific caregiver mental health conditions that may impact pediatric asthma severity.
Main Methods:
- A matched case-control study involving asthmatic children aged 6-14 years and their caregivers.
- Psychosocial disorders in caregivers were assessed using validated questionnaires.
- Statistical analyses included McNemar, Chi², Wilcoxon tests, and logistic regression to evaluate associations.
Main Results:
- Caregivers of asthmatic children exhibited significantly higher prevalence of anxiety, social phobia, depression, and poor mental quality of life.
- Anxiety, acute psychological disorders, and chronic psychological disorders in caregivers were significantly associated with increased risk of uncontrolled childhood asthma.
- Specific odds ratios indicated substantial risk increases for uncontrolled asthma linked to caregiver anxiety and psychological disorders.
Conclusions:
- Psychosocial disorders are highly prevalent among caregivers of children with asthma compared to controls.
- Caregiver anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life are linked to worse asthma control in children.
- Early detection and treatment of caregiver psychosocial disorders may improve childhood asthma management and outcomes.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between psychosocial caregiver disorders and childhood asthma.
Study Design:
We performed a matched case-control study with asthmatic children (6-14 years of age) from two different clinics in Zaragoza, Spain, between 2010 - 2016. Clinical data were collected from medical records and psychosocial disorders were assessed by interviewing the caregiver using validated questionnaires (Goldberg, CES-D, SF-12, PSS and SPIN). General analysis of cases and controls was performed using McNemar, Chi2 and Wilcoxon nonparametric tests. A logistic regression model to predict more severe asthma, adjusted by caregiver psychosocial disorders was performed.
Results:
208 children were evaluated (104 cases). Mean age was 9.7 ± 2.4 years, with a male predominance (62.5%). Anxiety, social phobia, depression, acute and chronic psychological disorders, and poor quality of life related to mental health were significantly more prevalent in caregivers of asthmatic children (p<0.05). On multivariate analysis, all of the above disorders significantly increased the risk of uncontrolled asthma, where anxiety, acute psychological disorders, and chronic psychological disorders were the most significant (OR 8.54, 95%CI 3.46-21.05, p<0.001; OR 6.05, 95%CI 2.39-15.28, p<0.001; and OR 4.86, 95%CI 1.97-12.02, p=0.001, respectively).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of psychosocial disorders in caregivers of asthmatic children is high, when compared to caregivers of healthy children. The presence of anxiety, social phobia, depression, and poor quality of life is associated with an increased risk of worse controlled asthma. Perhaps, early detection and treatment of these disorders could positively impact childhood asthma control.
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