Impact of Anxiety and Depression on the Level of Asthma Control Among Jordanian Adults with Asthma

Abstract

Purpose

Recent studies imply that psychological factors may actively contribute to the development of asthma. It is generally known that people with asthma frequently suffer from psychological illnesses. This association can make it challenging to reach asthma control. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Jordanian adults with asthma, in addition to the link between asthma control levels and these psychological disorders.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional study included 175 adults with asthma who visited the tertiary asthma clinic in three Jordanian Governmental hospitals. Sociodemographic data was collected directly from the patients who were assessed for their level of depression and anxiety using a self-administered questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Also, asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). The relation between the different sociodemographic variables and clinical data, particularly depression and anxiety and asthma control level, was assessed.

Results

Among 175 asthmatic patients, 60.57% had poor disease control, 8% had anxiety alone, 11.43% had depression alone, and 53.14% had anxiety plus depression. Poor asthma control was significantly associated with anxiety and depression (p= 0.044) and low levels of education (p=0.001). Further, a lower level of education was also related to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Most of the assessed Jordanian patients with asthma had their disease poorly controlled. Anxiety and depression are common among the studied sample of adults with asthma, and they appear to affect the level of disease control, suggesting the possibility that addressing these psychological conditions could enhance asthma control levels.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• Asthma control
• anxiety
• depression
• Jordan

Data Sharing Statement

The data utilized and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

The Institutional Review Boards of Hashemite University (No.23/9/2021/2022), Ministry of Health (No.16907), and Prince Hamza Hospital (No.1817) approved this study, and all procedures were performed in agreement with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its relevant amendments. All participants had provided their written informed consent to participate in the study.

Consent for Publication

All authors confirm that any details of this work can be published.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.