Depression and admission due to asthma in children
Depression and admission due to asthma in children
Abstract
Purpose: Asthma exacerbation is associated with depression in adult but the temporality in children is obscure. Depression and anxiety are relevant comorbidities and are associated with uncontrolled asthma. We aim to investigate the peculiar clinical features of pediatric asthma in patients whose parents answered that their children have symptoms of depression or anxiety. Methods: A retrospective case series analysis for 219 children who admitted and were diagnosed with asthma (J45.9, J46.0) from March 2015 to August 2017 was performed. The subjects consisted of the patients at the age under 18 years who visited a single tertiary Hospital. We divided patients into two groups by whether they have depression or anxiety symptoms or not. And analysis was taken with duration of hospitalization and age, the duration of treatment before admission, severity of asthma exacerbation, concomitant respiratory infection and laboratory findings. Results: Total 74 of 219 subject (33.7%) answered their children had symptoms of depression or anxiety (DA group). The sex ratio was not differ in two groups and age was significantly older in DA group (6.73 ± 4.7 vs 9.19 ± 4.8, p0.01). The days of hospitalization were more increased (5.27 ± 2.5 vs 7.19 ± 6.7, p0.05) and the severity of asthma exacerbation by Pediatric Asthma Score was not differ in two groups. Total eosinophil count, eosinophilic cationic protein, total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) level were increased in DA group but did not differ significantly. Sensitization with specific IgE was significantly increased in DA group. Conclusion: The present study indicates that depression and anxiety in older children increased the duration of hospitalization and were related to atopic tendency. Further study that can reveal comorbid depression and anxiety should be performed in children and adolescent asthma patients.