51% of adult patients with asthma have clinically significant anxiety

Of these only 21% had already been diagnosed and were receiving treatment.

Females reported significantly higher scores than males. More females (66.3%) registered clinically significant levels of anxiety as compared with males.

There was a positive correlation between the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score and the prescribed dose of inhaled glucocorticoids. There was also a positive correlation between anxiety and the number of medicines taken by patients.

Physicians treating patients with asthma should be aware of the association between asthma and anxiety. Always assess patients for the possibility of anxiety disorders as part of asthma management plans.

References:

Anxiety and the Management of Asthma in an Adult Outpatient Population. Medscape, 2010.

The burden of adult asthma in the United States: patients with asthma less likely to be employed (odds ratio, 0.78) http://goo.gl/eCNuu

Increased prevalence of behavioral problems in children with asthma. http://goo.gl/qz3Bm
Individuals with allergic rhinitis appear to be at a higher risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders - study http://goo.gl/hIwq9

Sad in the spring? Allergy-mood link is real - CNN, 2011.

Image source: Openclipart.org, public domain.