A Prospective Study to Assess the Quality of Life in Children with Newly Diagnosed Asthma and Their Caregivers using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to assess the quality of life (QOL) in newly diagnosed asthmatic children and their caregivers before and after treatment using mini pediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire (PAQLQ) and pediatric asthma caregivers quality of life questionnaire (PACQLQ) and to compare their quality of life with ACS (asthma clinical severity score).

Materials and methods: This prospective study was done among 99 children and their caregivers, who were interviewed using mini PAQLQ and PACQLQ on 2 occasions: at the time of inclusion and 4 weeks after treatment. During their clinic visit, asthma clinical severity scoring was done, and children were treated according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma).

Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, there was a significant change in all domains of mini PAQLQ (P < .001) and PACQLQ (P < .001). In children, the change in the emotional domain after treatment was minimal when compared to other domains. When ACS was compared with mini PAQLQ and PACQLQ, children with well-controlled asthma had a better quality of life than partially-controlled asthmatic children (P < .001) and there wasn't a significant change in the quality of life of the caregivers after treatment (P = .321).

Conclusion: During treatment, QOL of newly diagnosed asthmatic children and their caregivers showed significant improvement but children lagged in their emotional domain. Despite medical intervention, these children also require psychological support and counseling. Also, caregivers didn't perceive a change in their QOL when compared with ACS and it indicates that parent's and child health-related quality of life should be taken as independent dimensions.

Keywords: asthma clinical severity; caregivers; children; newly diagnosed asthma; quality of life.

Figure 1.

Grading of asthma at the time of diagnosis.