Jae Ho Chung1 and Chang Hoon Han2
1Department of Internal Medicine, International St. Mary`s Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea, 2Department of Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
Objectives: The aim of this study was examined the effects of asthma on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and compared it with HRQoL in the general Korean population using the results of a cross-sectional, nationwide survey.
Methods: Data were obtained from 229,131 participants (5,989 with asthma and 223,142 without asthma) in the 2010 Korean Community Health Survey. We compared EuroQol (EQ)-5D and EQ-visual analogue scale (VAS) scores after adjusting for sociodemographic and psychosocial factors as well as for comorbidities. Logistic regressions were used to explore determinants for the lowest quartile HRQoL in the asthma group.
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Results: The mean EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores were significantly lower in the asthma group (EQ-5D. 0.82; EQ-VAS, 64.2) than in the non-asthma group (EQ-5D, 0.90; EQ-VAS, 73.2) (P<0.001). The multivariate odd ratios (OR) for the lowest quartile of EQ-VAS in the asthma group versus the non-asthma group was 1.17 (95% CI, 1.04–1.32) and OR for the lowest quartile of EQ-5D in the asthma group versus the non-asthma 1.47 (95% CI, 1.18–1.84). Asthma subjects were more likely than those without asthma to have some or severe problems with pain (OR 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16–1.56) and anxiety/depression (OR 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03–1.56).
Conclusions: Asthma was associated with impaired HRQoL especially in pain and anxiety/depression problems compared with the non-asthma.