Association of Anxiety and Depression with Levels of Asthma Control, Severity, and Quality of Life among Adults with Bronchial Asthma.

Background: Bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic respiratory disorder characterized by variable airflow limitation and significant impairment of quality of life (QoL). Emerging evidence suggests that psychiatric comorbidities, particularly anxiety and depression, are highly prevalent among patients with asthma and can further compromise asthma control and severity. Objective: To evaluate the association of anxiety and depression with levels of asthma control, severity, and quality of life among adults with bronchial asthma. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India, enrolling 117 adults with physician-diagnosed asthma. Asthma severity (GINA classification), control (Asthma Control Questionnaire), and QoL (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) were assessed. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D) rating scales. Associations were analyzed using chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Among the 117 participants (mean age 37.15 years; range 18–58 years. 58.1% female), 65% (n=76) exhibited anxiety symptoms and 35%(n=41) had depression. Statistically significant associations were found between poor asthma control and higher anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p = 0.03) levels. Increased asthma severity was also associated with higher psychological distress levels (p < 0.001). The quality of life was significantly impaired in patients with anxiety and depression (p < 0.001). DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v15.i3.8607