How the Asthmatic Patients Handle During War?

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Global Health

Background:

• Psychological stress is a known factor influencing asthma severity and control.
• Limited objective data exists on asthma outcomes during prolonged armed conflict.
• This study investigates asthma patients in a frontline region of Ukraine during varying military intensity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in anxiety, depression, lung function, and asthma control in persistent asthma patients during conflict.
• To examine the associations between psychological factors, clinical parameters, and controller therapy access.
• To understand the impact of prolonged wartime stress on asthma management.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 49 adult persistent asthma patients and 21 healthy controls in Sumy, Ukraine.
• Assessed anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
• Measured lung function (FEV₁), Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, blood eosinophils, and total IgE levels; analyzed correlations and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Increased psychological distress observed in both asthma patients and controls during intensified hostilities.
• Asthma patients showed significant declines in FEV₁ and ACT scores with worsening security.
• Higher anxiety levels were independently associated with poor asthma control (ACT < 20).

Conclusions:

• Prolonged wartime stress led to psychological deterioration and worsened asthma control.
• Anxiety consistently predicted impaired asthma outcomes, unlike depressive symptoms.
• Integrating mental health screening into asthma management is crucial for conflict-affected populations.