October 2008: ERS Annual Congress-Emotional quality of life in boys and girls with asthma 10 to 13 years of age

The European Respiratory Society's (ERS) Annual Congress will be held in Berlin, Germany from October 3rd-8th.  

Presenter: Julia Dodge, MS, RN

Title:  "Emotional quality of life in boys and girls with asthma 10 to 13 years of age"

Authors:  Dr. Noreen Clark, Ms. Julia Dodge, Ms. Lara Thomas, Dr. Smita Shah, Ms. Rebecca Andridge, Dr. Roderick Little, Mr. Dan Awad, and Dr. James Paton

Date and Time: Tuesday October 7th, 2008:  12:50pm-2:40pm at the Messe Berlin in the poster hall-row "Hall 6.2-35".

Abstract: The transition from childhood to adolescence is an important time period for physical, social, and emotional development. Little is available to describe children with asthma in the pre teen age range where they can be expected to face increasing disease management challenges as they mature. In the study reported here, asthma related emotional quality of life (EQL) was hypothesized to be at risk as children move through the often unsettling life phase from 10 to 13 years of age. A total of 906 low income African American children (470 males, 436 females) attending 19 schools in Detroit, Michigan and their parent/caretakers were surveyed face to face and by telephone. Measures included the Juniper Asthma Related Quality of Life emotions subscale (EQL), symptom assessments based on U.S.NAEPP Guidelines, and demographic information including BMI. Data were analyzed to assess the relationship of demographic factors and symptoms to emotional quality of life. In unadjusted models, among girls, increasing age (p=0.01) increasing BMI (p=0.06), lower income (p=.04), and increasing nighttime symptoms (p=0.02) all were associated with a drop in EQL. Among boys, only lower income (p=0.04) was associated with a decrease in EQL. When models were adjusted for age, BMI, symptoms and income, no gender differences were evident. In adjusted models, nighttime symptoms increased with higher BMI for both girls (p=0.01) and boys (p=.02) and with lower income for girls only (p=0.03). These data suggest that asthma related EQL in low income African American children declines as they advance in age, increase in BMI, and experience more asthma symptoms. Such children may need special consideration in asthma counseling and patient education.