This cross-sectional, real-life study from Italy included 263 patients (109 males; mean age, 39.2 years) with asthma. 97 patients (36.9%) had anxiety, and 29 (11%) had depression. Of these patients, 71 had combined anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression were associated with poor asthma control. Patients with depression had higher body mass indexes. Anxiety and depression were associated with lower Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores.
Anxiety and depression are common and relevant comorbidities in asthmatic outpatients and are associated with uncontrolled asthma and lower ACT scores. Thus, assessment of comorbid mental disorders should be performed in everyday practice.
A conversation could save a life: "Are you OK?" Day
Hugh Jackman shows his support for R U OK?Day, a national day of action in Australia that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging people to connect with colleagues, friends and loved ones and ask simply: "Are you OK?" This may help your patients and medical colleagues too:
References:
The impact of anxiety and depression on outpatients with asthma. Giorgio Ciprandi et al. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, November 2015, Volume 115, Issue 5, Pages 408–414 (free full text).
http://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(15)00536-0/fulltext
Image source: Vincent van Gogh's 1890 painting At Eternity's Gate. Wikipedia, public domain.
Disclaimer: I have been the Editor of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Small Airways Working Group "What's New?" monthly summary since 2011. The summary features the top 3 asthma/small airways articles each month. The article above is a part of the project. The archive is here: http://www.worldallergy.org/small_airways_group/reviews/archive.php
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