The Association of Anxiety with Asthma Among a Sample of Asthmatics in ILE‐IFE Osun State Nigeria

Abstract

Background. The association between asthma and anxiety has been a subject of various studies in developed countries, but there has been little work done in this area in developing countries. The goal of this study is to determine whether asthmatics are more anxious than orthopaedic patients and healthy individuals. Method. Fifty consecutive asthmatics were assessed. All completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ—30) and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI—1 and 2). Healthy individuals (30) and orthopaedic patients (30) were also recruited as controls; they also completed the GHQ and the STAI—1 and 2. Results. No significant difference was found in the sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, occupation, and marital status. The asthmatics had a mean GHQ score of 4.2 (SD ± 4.6) while orthopaedic and healthy control groups scored 1.6 (SD ± 1.8) and 2 (SD ± 1.8), respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean score of the index population (Asthmatics) and the comparison groups (F = 7.09, DF = 2/107, P = 0.004). With GHQ, cutoff point of ≥ 5.34% of asthmatics scored above 5 while 10% and 13.3% of the orthopaedic patients and healthy controls each scored ≥ 5. A significant difference was obtained in the mean scores on the STAI—1 questionnaire (F = 4.6, DF = 2/107, P =.012) indicating state anxiety whereas there was no significant difference on the STAI—2 questionnaire (F = 1.2, DF = 2/107, P = 0.31). Conclusion. Although asthmatics have higher anxiety compared to controls, this is not an inherent problem or trait among them.

KEYWORDS:

• Asthma
• Anxiety
• Association
• Ile Ife
• Nigeria