Anxiety and depression in adult patients with asthma: the role of asthma control, obesity and allergic sensitization

Abstract

Objective

To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in adult patients with asthma and to identify factors associated with them.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 164 consecutively recruited patients with asthma aged ≥ 18 years. Participants were clinically assessed and the mental state was analyzed through of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was measured, and allergic sensitization and respiratory function were also evaluated. Binary logistic regression models to identify the factors related to anxiety or depression were carried out. Complementary, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.

Results

Anxiety was present in 54.3% of patients (95% CI: 46.6%–61.7%) while depression was found in 50.6% (95% CI: 43.0%–58.2%). Depression increased the odds of anxiety in patients with asthma (OR: 26.00, p < 0.0001), whereas an ACT score ≥ 20 points and allergic asthma were associated with a lower odds than the reference group (OR: 0.29; p = 0.007 and OR: 0.29; p = 0.024, respectively). Depression was associated with anxiety and obesity (OR: 25.33, p < 0.0001 and OR: 3.66; p = 0.014, respectively).

Conclusions

Overall, more than half of all asthmatic patients suffer from anxiety and depression. Well-controlled asthma and allergic sensitization decreased the likelihood of anxiety, while depression was associated with both obesity and anxiety.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• adult
• anxiety
• depression

Conflict of interests

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Author contributions

Martín Bedolla-Barajas conceived the study design, oversaw its conduct, did the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the article; Jaime Morales-Romero did the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the article; Désirée Larenas-Linnemann commented on study results and wrote the first draft of the article, Norma Angélica Pulido-Guillén, contributed elements of the study design, collected patient information, and helped write and revise the article; Juan Carlos Fonseca-López, and Dante Daniel Hernández-Cólin, helped conduct the study, collect and interpret the data.