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Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms Common in Patients With Severe Asthma
Nearly half of patients with severe asthma have symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to a study published in Respiratory Research.
“Routine screening and evaluation of psychological and associated clinical characteristics should be part of treatments promoting the right treatment for the right individual," wrote corresponding author Michelle A. Stubbs of the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Severe Asthma in Australia, and coauthors. "These characteristics may be important in the development of multi-component treatment programmes that address anxiety and depression in severe asthma.”
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The study included 140 adults with severe asthma who underwent multidimensional assessments. Per subscore results on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 26% of participants had symptoms of depression, 13% had symptoms of depression and anxiety, and 7% had symptoms of anxiety, according to the study.
Participants with symptoms of depression, or combined symptoms of anxiety and depression, had more quality of life impairment and worse asthma control, the study showed.
When researchers looked for associations between clinical characteristics and symptoms of anxiety and depression, they found dyspnea was linked with depression (multivariate models indicated a 1.90 odds ratio), dysfunctional breathing was linked with anxiety (1.24 odds ratio), and dysfunctional breathing and obesity were linked with combined anxiety and depression (1.16 and 1.17 odds ratios, respectively).
“Given the prevalence of anxiety and depression in this severe asthma population and its significant relationship to health-status and asthma control, we recommend that symptoms of anxiety and depression be included as a standard assessment of severe asthma and that interventions to effectively manage these symptoms are explored,” researchers advised. "Although not highly supported, the use of clinical measures as well as self-report questionnaires may be useful in distinguishing between dysfunctional breathing, dyspnoea and symptoms of anxiety, highlighting an area for further research."
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