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Objective: To
study the effect of
seasons on the
health-related
quality of life (HRQL)
of asthmatic
children.
Methods: Four
groups of asthmatic
children 7 to 14
years old were
recruited by
pediatricians during
each season of the
year. Their HRQL was
assessed by means of
the Paediatric
Asthma Quality of
Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ).
Other factors
surveyed were asthma
severity, atopy,
medical treatment,
immunotherapy,
obesity, parental
smoking, and anti-allergic
measures.
Results: The
mean (SD) overall
PAQLQ score was
highest in summer at
6.2 (1.0) and lowest
in autumn at 5.5
(1.2). The same
trend was found for
domains in summer
and autumn,
respectively:
symptoms, 6.2 (1.0)
vs 5.4 (1.4);
emotions, 6.5 (0.8)
vs 6.0 (1.0); and
activities, 5.9
(1.4) vs 5.0 (1.5).
Factors such as male
gender (odds ratio
[OR], 0.60; 95%
confi dence interval
[CI], 0.410.87),
being on
immunotherapy (OR,
0.59; 95% CI,
0.380.92), living
in an urban
environment (OR,
0.56; 0.330.93),
and residing on the
northern coast of
Spain along the Bay
of Biscay (OR, 0.56;
0.36-0.89) were
independent
protective factors
against having a
total PAQLQ score in
the lower tertile.
Conversely, being
recruited in a
primary care setting
(OR, 1.55;
1.012.38) and
having more severe
asthma were risks
for being in the
lower tertile.
Conclusions:
Irrespective of the
severity of the
disease, season has
a significant
influence on the
HRQL of asthmatic
children.
Key words:
Asthma. Children.
Immunotherapy.
Quality of life.
Seasons.
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