The Serbian Version of the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire in Daily Practice

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and adolescents and a serious global health problem, thus severely affecting the health related quality of life (HRQL). This study was aimed at exploring the potential role of the Serbian, self administered version of the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) in the routine clinical evaluation of children suffering from bronchial asthma. One hundred Serbian children and adolescents (62 males and 38 females), aged 7 to 17 years, affected by allergic asthma, were enrolled. Each patient was evaluated once, and asthma control and severity were assessed, spirometry was performed, FeNO measurements were performed and the patients completed the self-administered version of the PAQLQ. PAQLQ differed according to asthma severity, NO variation and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score. No correlations were found between the questionnaire's score and FEV₁ percent of predicted. The Serbian version of the PAQLQ is a feasible aid to clinical measurements and used in routine practice gives a good insight into asthma control and severity.

Keywords :

• childhood asthma
• quality of life
• asthma severity and control
• lung functions
• routine practice