Relationship between anxiety symptoms, clinical control and quality of life of children with asthma: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between anxiety symptoms and factors related to clinical control and quality of life of children with asthma aged 7-12 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study involving children recruited from a reference center for asthma treatment in the city of Natal-RN. Diagnosis, control and severity were performed following GINA recommendations (2019). Sociodemographic information and spirometry results from a bronchodilator test were collected. Modified Fisher's scale, clinical control questionnaires (c-ACT and ACT), quality of life assessment (PAQLQ) (total score and domains) and anxiety symptoms assessment (SCAS) (total score and domains) were applied.

Results: The sample consisted of 42 children with asthma. Symptoms of social phobia (as identified by SCAS), and household head education were related to clinical asthma control (p = .006; R 2  = .19). Total SCAS score, guardian's education and physical activity were related to total PAQLQ (p < .0001; R 2  = .33). SCAS was related to the activity limitation domain of PAQLQ (p = .004; R 2  = .17). SCAS, gender, and physical activity were related to the PAQLQ symptoms domain (p = .003; R 2  = .32). The guardian's education, physical activity practice, and the symptoms of separation anxiety, panic attack and agoraphobia (as identified by SCAS) were related to the emotional domain of PAQLQ (p = .004; R 2  = .45).

Conclusion: The present study shows evidence of an association between anxiety symptoms, poorer clinical control, and health-related quality of life in children with asthma.