Evaluation of Digital Addiction Levels in Children and Adolescents with Asthma: A Case-Control Study

Aim: Asthma remains the most prevalent chronic condition among children, significantly affecting their health and contributing to increased school absenteeism. Digital addiction, defined by the excessive use of digital technologies, has become prevalent across different age groups, emerging as a significant societal concern. This study aims to evaluate the levels of digital addiction in children with asthma and compare these findings with those of their healthy peers, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the factors influencing asthma management in the digital age. Materials and Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at the outpatient paediatric clinic and the child psychiatry department of Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital between December 2023 and March 2024. Data collection involved structured interviews with both the participants and their parents, during which details regarding device usage over the preceding six months were gathered. Results: A total of 170 participants were recruited for the study, consisting of 56 females and 114 males, with a median age of 11 years (interquartile range: 5). The overall Digital Addiction Scale for Children score was also significantly higher in the asthma group compared to controls (p = 0.003). The optimal threshold obtained from the receiver operating characteristic analysis was 50.5 points, which provided a sensitivity of 63.5% and a specificity of 60%. A significant association was identified between digital addiction and asthma with p=0.002 and an odds ratio of 2.613 (95% CI: 1.407-4.853). Conclusion: Children and adolescents with asthma exhibit notably higher total digital addiction scores than their healthy counterparts, suggesting a potential association that merits further research. There is a need for comprehensive prospective investigations to clarify the nature of the relationship between asthma and digital addiction.