The Impact of Asthma Control on the Clinical and Depressive Symptoms in Pediatric Asthma Patients

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that severely affects children’s health and leads to anxiety and depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between asthma control status and depressive symptoms in children with asthma. 

Methods: This study included pediatric asthma patients (n = 117) who were admitted to Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao between January 2021 and January 2023. Based on asthma control status, the patients were divided into well-controlled (n = 67) and poorly controlled (n = 50) groups. Various parameters, including asthma control, depressive symptoms, respiratory function, sleep quality, physical activity, and quality of life, were assessed through standardized assessments, medical records, and participant, or caregiver reports. The data was comparatively analyzed between the two groups. 

Results: We observed no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two experimental groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the well-controlled group demonstrated better asthma control with lower hospitalizations, emergency visits, and higher asthma control test scores (p < 0.001). Additionally, the well-controlled group exhibited better respiratory function with higher forced vital capacity (FVC), better ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, higher maximal mid-expiratory flow, higher forced expiratory flow between 25%–75% of FVC, and higher total lung capacity (p < 0.001). Moreover, the symptom score (p < 0.001), activity restriction score (p = 0.001), and affective function score (p < 0.001) were significantly higher for the well-controlled group compared to the poorly controlled group. Additionally, the well-controlled group showed lower levels of childhood depression, as evidenced by lower Children’s Depression Inventory scores (p < 0.001).   

Conclusion: Our findings provide strong evidence of the association between asthma control status and childhood depressive symptoms in pediatric asthma patients. Effective asthma management was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, better respiratory function, improved sleep quality, increased physical activity, and higher quality of life, highlighting the need for comprehensive care and integrated management approaches in pediatric asthma to optimize health outcomes. These findings hold significance for clinical practice, offering valuable insights into the subtle factors influencing asthma control and depressive symptoms in pediatric asthma patients.