The self-reported quality of life of Lithuanian children with asthma was comparable to Western populations

Vaida Taminskiene, Egle Vaitkaitiene, Algirdas Valiulis, Steve Turner, Adamos Hadjipanayis, Rimantas Stukas, Arunas Valiulis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Aim: Quality of life (QoL) has been widely researched among children with asthma in Western countries, but there is a lack of data from Eastern Europe, where the prevalence is relatively low, but hospital admission rates are higher. We evaluated the overall level and major determinants of QoL in Lithuanian children aged 5-11 years with asthma.

Methods: This study was carried out in six asthma outpatient clinics in the two largest cities of Lithuania from January 2015 to July 2016. The children’s QoL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) asthma module, which was completed by the child and one parent.

Results: We collected questionnaires from 226 children (68% boys) with a mean age of 8 (± 2): 65% had mild asthma, 31% had moderate asthma and 4% had severe asthma. One in ten had been hospitalised in the preceding six months. The mean self-reported QoL score was 74 and parent-reported QoL score was 73. QoL was associated with asthma severity and control, shortness of breath and the child’s general health, but not socioeconomic factors.

Conclusions: The overall level and major determinants of QoL in children with asthma in Lithuania were comparable with Western populations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)333-338
Number of pages6
JournalActa Paediatrica
Volume107
Issue number2
Early online date17 Nov 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2018

Bibliographical note

This study received European Finding from the Improvement of Training of High Qualification Specialists for the Development of Research-Intensive Economic Sub-Sectors – NKPDOKT structural support project (project number VP1-3.1-ŠMM-01-V-03-001).

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Children
  • Epidemiology
  • Lithuania
  • Quality of life

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