Quality of Life of asthmatic children and their caregivers

Objectives: To assess Quality of Life (QOL), and its associated factors between asthmatic children and their caregivers, and determine the correlation between QOL of patients and caregivers, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among eligible participants who attended Pediatric Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic of KAUH, during 2016/2017. A data collection sheet was used. The standardized Arabic version of Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) for children aged 7 - 17 years was completed. The caregiver who accompanied the child fulfilled the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed.

Results: QOL scores were reduced among asthmatic children who had other type of allergy, or a family history of allergies. Uncontrolled management of asthma presented by frequent waking-up at night, frequent wheezes, visiting Emergency Rooms (ER), or hospital admission was associated with poor QOL of both asthmatic children and their caregivers. There is a positive correlation between child symptoms domain of PAQLQ and emotional domain of PACQLQ of their caregivers.

Conclusion: Uncontrolled asthma was associated with poor QOL of asthmatic child and caregivers. Better management of asthma is recommended to improve their QOL.