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ABSTRACT: Szabó A, Mezei G, Kővári É, Cserháti E. Depressive symptoms amongst asthmatic children’s caregivers. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: e667–e673. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/SWe wanted to find out, whether the number of depressive symptoms is higher amongst asthmatic children’s caregivers, compared to international data, to the Hungarian population average, and to parents of children with chronic renal disease. Are these depressive symptoms connected to the children’s psychological status, asthma severity or current asthma symptoms? One-hundred and eight, 7- to 17-yr-old asthmatic children were enrolled, who have been treated at the Semmelweis University, First Department of Pediatrics. Children were suffering from asthma for at least 1 yr, with a median of 8 yr (1–16 yr), they started to develop asthmatic symptoms between the age of 0.5–14 yr (median: 3 yr). We also identified 27 children with chronic renal diseases and their caregivers, who functioned as a control group. Children were asked to complete the Hungarian-validated versions of the Child Depression Inventory, the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory for Children and the Juniper Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. Asthma severity and current symptoms were also documented, 56% had no symptoms on the preceding week. Caregivers were asked to complete the Hungarian versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) short form, the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and the Juniper Pediatric Asthma Caregivers’ Quality of Life Questionnaire. Caregivers of asthmatic children had significantly more depressive symptoms (7.73 ± 6.69 s.d.) than the age-specific normal population (p < 0.01). Caregivers of renal patients also experience more depressive symptoms (9.61 ± 7.43 s.d.) than their healthy peers, but difference between the two chronic diseases’ group did not prove to be significant. Asthmatic children’s caregivers who scored more points on the BDI than the population average suffer from more anxiety symptoms, but their quality of life is not worse than the caregivers’ with less depressive points. Depressive symptoms were neither connected to the children’s psychological and asthmatic symptoms nor quality of life. Amongst caregivers of asthmatic children, at least mild depressive symptoms were represented amongst 39% of men and 33% of women. Gender difference was not significant, despite observations in the normal Hungarian population. Amongst caregivers of renal patients, depressive symptoms were represented in 14% of men and 50% of women. Gender difference was significant. (p = 0.05). Significant difference was observed between male asthmatic and renal caregivers, albeit difference was not significant between the female groups. No difference was found in depressive symptoms according to caregivers’ level of education. Caregivers of children with asthma have more depressive symptoms than the average Hungarian population, but their results do not differ from caregivers taking care of children with chronic renal diseases. Caregivers of asthmatic children having at least mild depressive symptoms tend to have higher anxiety symptoms as well. Up to date, childhood chronic disease management and long-term care should also focus on parental psychology, mainly on depression and anxiety, as prevalence is higher than in the average population.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 05/2010; 21(4p2):e667 - e673. · 2.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We wanted to find out, whether the number of depressive symptoms is higher amongst asthmatic children's caregivers, compared to international data, to the Hungarian population average, and to parents of children with chronic renal disease. Are these depressive symptoms connected to the children's psychological status, asthma severity or current asthma symptoms? One-hundred and eight, 7- to 17-yr-old asthmatic children were enrolled, who have been treated at the Semmelweis University, First Department of Pediatrics. Children were suffering from asthma for at least 1 yr, with a median of 8 yr (1-16 yr), they started to develop asthmatic symptoms between the age of 0.5-14 yr (median: 3 yr). We also identified 27 children with chronic renal diseases and their caregivers, who functioned as a control group. Children were asked to complete the Hungarian-validated versions of the Child Depression Inventory, the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory for Children and the Juniper Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. Asthma severity and current symptoms were also documented, 56% had no symptoms on the preceding week. Caregivers were asked to complete the Hungarian versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) short form, the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and the Juniper Pediatric Asthma Caregivers' Quality of Life Questionnaire. Caregivers of asthmatic children had significantly more depressive symptoms (7.73 +/- 6.69 s.d.) than the age-specific normal population (p < 0.01). Caregivers of renal patients also experience more depressive symptoms (9.61 +/- 7.43 s.d.) than their healthy peers, but difference between the two chronic diseases' group did not prove to be significant. Asthmatic children's caregivers who scored more points on the BDI than the population average suffer from more anxiety symptoms, but their quality of life is not worse than the caregivers' with less depressive points. Depressive symptoms were neither connected to the children's psychological and asthmatic symptoms nor quality of life. Amongst caregivers of asthmatic children, at least mild depressive symptoms were represented amongst 39% of men and 33% of women. Gender difference was not significant, despite observations in the normal Hungarian population. Amongst caregivers of renal patients, depressive symptoms were represented in 14% of men and 50% of women. Gender difference was significant. (p = 0.05). Significant difference was observed between male asthmatic and renal caregivers, albeit difference was not significant between the female groups. No difference was found in depressive symptoms according to caregivers' level of education. Caregivers of children with asthma have more depressive symptoms than the average Hungarian population, but their results do not differ from caregivers taking care of children with chronic renal diseases. Caregivers of asthmatic children having at least mild depressive symptoms tend to have higher anxiety symptoms as well. Up to date, childhood chronic disease management and long-term care should also focus on parental psychology, mainly on depression and anxiety, as prevalence is higher than in the average population.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 09/2009; 21(4 Pt 2):e667-73. · 2.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The study's objective was to examine depression, anxiety and quality of life according to age and asthma status in pediatric asthma in a pediatric university department.
108 patients, age: 11.75 +/- 3.10 (mean +/- SD) years (boys 11.6 +/- 2.8 years and girls 12.1 +/- 3.7 years) completed the Child Depression Inventory, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a symptom score. Forced expiratory volume in one second was also measured.
Mean forced expiratory volume in one second percent was 97.4 +/- 12.8. 23 patients (21%) had intermittent asthma, 40 patients (37%) had mild persistent, 43 patients (40%) had moderate persistent, 2 patients (2%) had severe persistent asthma. Pediatric asthma patients scored 9.36 +/- 5.57 points in the depression questionnaire. Patients showed as many depressive symptoms as the Hungarian average population, pre-adolescent boys with asthma showed even less. Children with asthma scored 31.16 +/- 4.61 points on the anxiety questionnaire; (boys 30.64 +/- 4.29, girls 32.67 +/- 5.27). Children with asthma have the same anxiety level as their healthy peers. On the quality of life questionnaire asthmatic children reached 6.18 +/- 1.00 (2.87-7.00); adolescent girls scored the worst (5.62 +/- 1.28). Adolescent asthmatic girls have the worst quality of life. Boys reach better quality of life scores as they grow older ( p = 0.02). Girls with adolescence have a tendency of decreasing quality of life, although the difference is not significant. In adolescence, asthmatic girls experience more quality of life deprivation than boys ( p = 0.013). Depression score, anxiety, or quality of life showed no difference between the intermittent and persistent asthmatic groups. Children in the symptomatic subgroup experienced poorer quality of life. Depression and anxiety were not affected by current asthma symptoms. There was no significant difference in depression, anxiety or quality of life scores according to age.
The psychological status of children with asthma is fairly good. One should concentrate more on the quality of life of girls in adolescence. The good pediatric care of childhood asthmatics helps to avoid the psychological consequences of the disease.
Orvosi Hetilap 01/2008; 148(51):2419-24.
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World Allergy Organization Journal 10/2007;
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study is to determine and describe the current short-term health-related quality of life of recent adult patients who had bronchial asthma in childhood. Our objective was to investigate if symptom control in bronchial asthma could be in conflict with general quality of life. We made a follow-up study of 152 patients (105 male, 47 female) over the age of 30 (31-55 yr) who were allergic asthmatics in childhood. The patients' current symptoms and short-term quality of life were evaluated by a questionnaire. The patients developed asthmatic symptoms by age 4.4 (0.5-13) years on the average. Now 60% (91 persons) have no symptoms. They became symptom-free between 3 and 41 yr of age (mean = 14.2 +/- 8.2). Amongst the currently asthmatic patients (58 patients, 38%), 34 patients (22%) belong to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) I, nine patients (6%) to the GINA II, five patients (3.3%) to the GINA III, and five patients (3.3%) to the GINA IV classification. Five patients (3.3%) did not specify their own symptoms. Three persons (2%) did not answer this question. Symptomatic patients reached 5.28 on the Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, while their asymptomatic peers scored statistically higher with 6.8 on the scale. Amongst the symptomatic patients, the most limited areas were: 'bothered by heavy breathing', 'had to avoid a situation or environment because of dust', 'experienced difficulty breathing out as a result of asthma', 'experienced asthma symptoms as a result of the weather or air pollution outside'. They were least 'concerned about medication', 'frustrated as a result of their asthma', they were least limited in 'going outside because of the weather or air pollution'. The most problematic areas for the symptom-free patients were 'had to avoid a situation or environment because of dust', 'had to avoid a situation or environment because of cigarette smoke', 'experiencing asthma symptoms as a result of being exposed to dust and the 'need to clear throat'. It seems that having no asthma symptoms is not equal to having a good quality of life for asthmatic patients. Moreover, symptom control in bronchial asthma is in conflict with quality of life, as many prophylactic measures to prevent exposure to allergens also restrict the patient's life.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 01/2005; 15(6):539-44. · 2.46 Impact Factor
