The prevalence and pulmonary consequences of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with asthma.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in outpatients with treated asthma and to determine the influence of anxiety and depression symptoms on lung function and asthma symptoms. The study was conducted in the pulmonary clinic of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Osijek University Hospital Centre, on 200 outpatients with asthma, aged 18-50 years, of which there were 65.5% women and 35.5% men. Each patient underwent a clinical examination with an extensive anamnesis and lung auscultation. The lung function was tested by spirometry. Demographic data and data on general and socioeconomic characteristics were evaluated using a questionnaire created internally for the purposes of this research, psychological status was assessed by HAD questionnaire, and Q test was used as a measure of asthma control. Based on the HAD questionnaire, 44.5% of asthma patients met the criteria for anxiety, and 24.5% of asthma patients met the criteria for depression. There was no significant correlation between asthma symptoms and the degree of anxiety or depression, while the pulmonary function of asthma patients negatively correlated with the degree of anxiety and depression. Pulmonary function in asthma patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression was significantly poorer than in asthma patients without anxiety and/or depression symptoms. The results show that among asthma patients there are large number of those who have symptoms of anxiety and depression. Asthma patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression have poorer lung function than patients with only asthma symptoms, however there is no significant correlation between the lung function and symptoms of asthma. We have confirmed that patients with anxiety symptoms visit general practitioners or EMS significantly more when compared to patients with depression symptoms.