Quality of Life and Measures of Asthma Control in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Aim. To study quality of life and asthma control in primary care. A total of 1,477 patients 15 to 45 years of age received questionnaires regarding asthma control (77% responded) and quality of life, Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ), (74% responded). Patients using short-acting beta-agonists more than twice in the last week had clinically significant lower MiniAQLQ scores (5.17 versus 5.91). This finding was consistent for night awakenings during the previous week (4.42 versus 5.86), courses of oral corticosteroids (4.82 versus 5.69), and reported emergency consultations during the last 6 months (4.85 versus 5.71). Good asthma control is associated with better quality of life in asthma patients in primary care.

Keywords:

• asthma
• primary health care
• control
• symptoms
• quality of life