Health-Related Quality of Life Assessment in Egyptian Asthmatic Children

Abstract

The quality of life of children and adolescents with asthma deserve special attention, because asthma affects not only the individuals with the disease, but also their caregivers, thereby altering the family's normal life activities. Different questionnaires have been developed to assess health related quality of life (HRQoL). EQ-5D-Y is a generic instrument, based on the EQ-5D adult version, which provides the opportunity to address a child’s HRQoL, regardless of the disease. We sought to assess the HRQoL of asthmatic children in relation to their asthma severity and control, using the EQ-5D-Y questionnaire, in comparison to matched controls. We conducted a cross-sectional which included 3 groups of subjects: bronchial asthma group (n=100), aged 6-12 years, infection group (n=114), and healthy control group (n=100) with comparable age and gender distribution. Subjects were consecutively enrolled from the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Unit, (asthmatic group), and Outpatient Clinic (control groups), Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University during the period from April 2018 and May 2019. Subjects with chronic illnesses or significant medical and/or social problems unrelated to asthma were excluded from the study.