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Abstract
Study objective. To assess the ability of an adult risk screening questionnaire (RSQ), previously shown to predict attendance at hospital emergency departments, to identify impaired quality of life in adult patients with asthma in general practice. Design. Baseline data from an RCT of asthma clinics in general practice, using the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) to measure quality of life. Setting. Twelve general practices in Adelaide, Australia. Results. A total of 184 adult asthmatics were recruited, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 50.3 years (16.6 years). Age, gender, weight, number of comorbidities, smoking status, FEV1 and percent predicted FEV1 (pre-and post-bronchodilator), peak flow (pre and post), and RSQ were independently related to SGRQ scores. After adjusting for potential confounders, an RSQ score predictive of hospital attendance was also associated with an average increase (worsening) in SGRQ total score of 11.9 (95% CI: 7.6, 16.3), an average increase in activity score of 9.0 (2.5, 15.5), symptom score of 14.8 (8.6, 21.0), and impact score of 13.1 (8.6, 17.6). These represent clinically significant differences. Conclusion. An RSQ score predictive of hospital attendance should alert the general practitioner to explore and address symptom, activity, and impact domains associated with impaired quality of life in adult asthma.