Quality of life and control of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in children: Correlative study with CARAT Kids and ED-5D-Y. (QoLARy)

• Autor(a) principal: Resende, Carla Sofia dos Santos
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/5126
• topic: Asma; Caratkids; Crianças; Qualidade de Vida; Rinite Alérgica

Introduction: Quality of life in children suffering from asthma and/or allergic rhinitis seems to be lower than in healthy children. However, there are few studies of the effect of asthma and allergic rhinitis on the quality of life of children. The objective of this study is to find if quality of life in children correlates with the control of asthma and allergic rhinitis evaluated by the CARATKids test. Methods: In an observational study the EQ-5D-Y and the CARATKids instruments were applied to a sample of children aged from 6 to 12 years old, diagnosed with asthma or allergic rhinitis. After obtaining written informed consent, the children and their parents completed both questionnaires. Results were analyzed with the Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17.0. Descriptive analysis was used for the characterization of the sample. Parametric and non-parametric tests were performed, including chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U and Student t-tests, after data normality was observed. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered for significant difference. Results: Forty-seven children, with a mean age of 9.34 years were studied. The sample had 72.3% male children. Most of them had a family history of atopic disease, were living in an urban area and had pets at home. The mean score of CARATKids was 4.64 (in a possible score range from 0 to 13). The mean quality of life score, using the EQ-5D-Y, was 0.33. QoL scores in the first quartile (“very good”) or second quartile (“good”) were found in 68.1% of the sample. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) quality of life score was 85.30±16.65 with a Median of 90.00. “Very good” Quality of Health was reported by 15 patients. Using a Pearson correlation, to evaluate the correlation between CARATKids and EQVAS, we found that there is a significant negative correlation (p= -0.37). With more positive answers given by the children, the parents, or both, in the CARATKids instrument, the QoL in the Visual Analogue Scale was lower. Quality of Life was relatively high and was influenced by the degree of control of asthma or allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: The CARATKids test has good correlation with quality of life in children measured by the EQ-5D-Y. CARATKids can be used in clinical practice, to control asthma and allergic rhinitis and to improve QoL in children.