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Quality of life in children with undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma

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Abstract

This study describes the impact of undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma on quality of life in schoolchildren aged 7–10 years and their caregivers in a cross-sectional community-based study. Diagnosed asthma was defined as the parents’ confirmation of a physician’s diagnosis of asthma. Undiagnosed asthma was defined by asthma symptoms combined with airway reversibility or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Quality of life was evaluated in all children with asthma and a sample of healthy controls by the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and by the Paediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaire. We studied the impact of breathing problems on school absence. Compared with healthy controls, quality of life scores among children and their caregivers were lower if the child had asthma (P < 0.05), with lowest scores in diagnosed asthma (P < 0.05 compared with undiagnosed asthma). Children with asthma reported more school absence (P < 0.05), with highest absence rate in those with diagnosed asthma. In conclusion, both undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma have a significant impact on the quality of life of both children and their caregivers.

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Abbreviations

UDA:

undiagnosed asthma

DA:

diagnosed asthma

HC:

healthy controls

BHR:

bronchial hyperresponsiveness

BD:

bronchodilator

PAQLQ:

Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire

PACQLQ:

Paediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaire

FEV1 :

forced expiratory volume in 1 s

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Máxima Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

    René van Gent

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Asthma Centre Heideheuvel, Hilversum, The Netherlands

    Liesbeth E. M. van Essen

  3. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care and Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Maroeska M. Rovers

  4. Pediatric Infectious disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jan L. L. Kimpen

  5. Pediatric Pulmonology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Cornelis K. van der Ent

  6. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Gea de Meer

  7. Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Gea de Meer

Authors
  1. René van Gent
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  2. Liesbeth E. M. van Essen
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  3. Maroeska M. Rovers
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  4. Jan L. L. Kimpen
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  5. Cornelis K. van der Ent
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  6. Gea de Meer
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Correspondence to René van Gent.

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van Gent, R., van Essen, L.E.M., Rovers, M.M. et al. Quality of life in children with undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma. Eur J Pediatr 166, 843–848 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0358-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0358-y

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