Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthmatic Patients on Inhaled Corticosteroids: An Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Corticosteroids play a pivotal role in the treatment of the asthma. They rapidly reduce the number of eosinophils in the blood and tissues and inhibit their degranulation, suggesting that sputum eosinophilia could be a good predictor of response to inhaled corticosteroids. Chronic diseases like asthma have significant effects on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL measures additional indices as compared to objective measurements like spirometry. Objective: To assess and compare disease-specific quality of life in asthma patients using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) receiving inhaled corticosteroids. Material and Methods: Patients were enquired for their duration of illness, other co morbidities (if present), history of smoking and familial history of the illness. Pattern of asthma was duly assessed. For Health-related Quality of life assessment, Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used in the study after obtaining due permission from the concerned authority at St George's, University of London. Results: Mean age of the study population was found to be 36.17 ± 18.77 years. Mean duration of illness for the asthmatics was 10.19 ± 11.08 years. Majority i.e. 69% denied of having any familial history of asthma, while 31% confirmed having the same. Smoking status was enquired among the study subjects, which revealed that 85% were non-smokers, while 9% were past smokers and 6% were current smokers. Pattern of asthma was found to be seasonal for 65% patients while perennial for 35% patients. Baseline symptoms score was 61.45± 15.78, which was reduced to 48.19±18.73 after 3 months on inhaled corticosteroids therapy. Baseline activity score was 49.67± 15.34, which was reduced to 41.51±18.52 after 3 months on inhaled corticosteroids therapy. Baseline impact score was 48.79± 16.85, which was reduced to 38.69±18.14 after 3 months on inhaled corticosteroids therapy. Conclusion: There was evidence for an early QoL improvement on inhaled corticosteroids in moderate and severe persistent asthma.