Predictors of Asthma-related Quality of Life in a Large Cohort of Asthmatics: Towards a New Vison on Feno – A Cross-sectional Study in a Secondary Care Center
Abstract Background: In recent decades, measures of asthma-related quality of life have become important outcomes alongside clinical objective outcomes. In this study we sought to investigate the predictors of asthma-related quality of life in a large cohort of patients recruited from a secondary care center. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on asthmatics recruited from the asthma clinic of Chu Liège (Belgium). After carrying out a descriptive analysis highlighting the distribution of the mini asthma quality of life questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ) and its 4 dimensions (symptoms, activity limitation, emotional function and environmental stimuli), we performed a multiple regression analysis to identify the independent predictors of AQLQ.Results: The median score (IQR) of global AQLQ was 4,53 (3,47-5,6), while the median score of symptom dimension, activity dimension, emotional dimension and environmental dimension were 4,2(3,2-5,4), 4,8 (3,3-6), 4,7 (3,3-6) et 4,7 (3,7-6) respectively. Multiple regression beta analysis showed that AQLQ and its 4 dimensions were primarily associated with asthma control test (ACT) (p<0,0001 in all instances). Female gender was associated with altered asthma quality of life for its activity and environmental dimension (p<0,05 for both), while current smokers had a greater asthma quality of life in its environmental dimension (p<0,0001). Receiving any asthma treatment was associated with impaired asthma quality of life in its emotional dimension. BMI was associated with impaired asthma quality of life in its activity dimension (p<0,0001), while the reverse was found regarding FeNO (p<0,0001). Conclusion: Asthma control is the main predictor of asthma-related quality of life, but demographic factors like gender, smoking status and BMI may impact some dimensions of the asthma quality of life. FeNO is an independent predictor of the activity dimension of AQLQ and positively associated with it.
