Anxiety and depression in adult patients with asthma: the role of asthma control, obesity and allergic sensitization.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in adult patients with asthma and to identify factors associated with them.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 164 consecutively recruited patients with asthma aged ≥ 18 years. Participants were clinically assessed and the mental state was analyzed through of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was measured, and allergic sensitization and respiratory function were also evaluated. Binary logistic regression models to identify the factors related to anxiety or depression were carried out. Complementary, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.

RESULTS

Anxiety was present in 54.3% of patients (95% CI: 46.6%-61.7%) while depression was found in 50.6% (95% CI: 43.0%-58.2%). Depression increased the odds of anxiety in patients with asthma (OR: 26.00, p < 0.0001), whereas an ACT score ≥ 20 points and allergic asthma were associated with a lower odds than the reference group (OR: 0.29; p = 0.007 and OR: 0.29; p = 0.024, respectively). Depression was associated with anxiety and obesity (OR: 25.33, p < 0.0001 and OR: 3.66; p = 0.014, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, more than half of all asthmatic patients suffer from anxiety and depression. Well-controlled asthma and allergic sensitization decreased the likelihood of anxiety, while depression was associated with both obesity and anxiety.