Quality of life and its influencing factors on children with asthma in China: a comparative study before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective

This study compares the level of quality of life (QoL) and its influencing factors on children with asthma before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study carried out cross-sectional surveys on children with asthma and their parents in China before and during the epidemic. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Family Management Scale for Children with Asthma (FMSCA), and the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ). Participants from before the epidemic were matched by their propensity score in a 1:1 ratio with individuals from during the epidemic. The level of QoL of children with asthma was subsequently analyzed. Both univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to identify the influencing factors.

Results

Compared to their level before the epidemic, the total score of PAQLQ and its three dimensions decreased during the epidemic. Regression analysis revealed that before the epidemic, the total score of PAQLQ was significantly associated with follow-up visits, attendance of asthma lectures, and the total score of FMSCA (p < 0.05). During the epidemic, the total score of the PAQLQ was significantly associated with three dimensions of the FMSCA (future expectation, children identity, and views of condition), and two classifications of the family management styles (FMS) (enduring and accommodating) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The QoL of children with asthma deteriorated during the epidemic. Influencing factors changed during the epidemic, with more emphasis on the family environment. Future intervention strategies need to take into account the development of interactions between children and environmental forces.

Keywords:

• Childhood asthma
• COVID-19
• Ecological Systems Theory
• environment
• family management
• medical service
• propensity score matching

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the children, families, and participating hospitals.

For this article, we thank Jim Stout, Indiana University, USA (retired) for his help in editing.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Data availability statement

Data which does not identify individuals, families, or other confidential or sensitive situations is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.