Journal of Asthma and Allergy (May 2024)
Impact of Anxiety and Depression on the Level of Asthma Control Among Jordanian Adults with Asthma
Abstract
Ola Abu Al Karsaneh,1 Arwa Al Anber,2 Sofian Al Shboul,2 Moath Alrjoub,3 Omran Ibrahim Almashaqbeh,4 Mohammad Alqaisi,4 Rahaf Abuatieh,4 Suhaib Mohammad Ananzeh,4 Anas Mousa Hamad,4 Raneem Almomani,4 Mohammad Mahmoud Tommalieh4 1Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan; 2Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan; 3Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 4Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, JordanCorrespondence: Ola Abu Al Karsaneh, Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan, Tel +962 5 390 3333 (5577), Email [email protected]: 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