Prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma and to compare it with that of adolescents without asthma. METHODS: A transversal study using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, administered to adolescents with or without asthma, ranging from 14 to 16 years of age and randomly selected from schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. RESULTS: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with and without asthma was 20.4% (95% CI: 14.5-27.8%) and 9.0% (95% CI: 6.1-12.8%), respectively. Among adolescents with asthma, 56.6% (95% CI: 48.3-64.5%) presented normal scores, and 23.0% (95% CI 16.8-30.7%) presented borderline scores. Among adolescents without asthma, 75.0% (95% CI: 69.7-79.6%) presented normal scores, and 16.0% (95% CI: 12.2-20.7%) presented borderline scores. The median total score on the questionnaire was 14 and 12 among subjects with and without asthma, respectively (p < 0.01). In the final logistic regression model, adjusted for socioeconomic variables, the association between emotional/behavioral disorders and the following variables remained significant: being female (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.10-3.56; p = 0.02) and having asthma (OR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.52-4.64; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders is higher in adolescents with asthma than in those without asthma, underscoring the need for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.

Prevalência de transtornos emocionais e comportamentais em adolescentes com asma / Prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de transtornos emocionais e comportamentais em adolescentes com asma e compará-la com a prevalência em adolescentes sem asma. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal através de um questionário de transtornos psicológicos (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) aplicado a adolescentes de 14 a 16 anos, com e sem asma, selecionados aleatoriamente em escolas municipais de Belo Horizonte (MG) Brasil. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de transtornos emocionais e comportamentais em adolescentes com e sem asma foi 20,4 por cento (IC95 por cento: 14,5-27,8 por cento) e 9 por cento (IC95 por cento: 6,1-12,8 por cento), respectivamente. Entre os adolescentes com asma, 56,6 por cento (IC95 por cento: 48,3-64,5 por cento) apresentavam escores dentro da faixa de normalidade e 23 por cento (IC95 por cento: 16,8-30,7 por cento), valores limítrofes. Entre os que não tinham asma, 75 por cento (IC95 por cento: 69,7-79,6 por cento) apresentavam escores normais e 16 por cento (IC95 por cento: 12,2-20,7 por cento), limítrofes. A mediana no escore total do questionário foi 14 nos portadores de asma e 12 nos sem asma (p < 0,01). Na análise multivariada (regressão logística), controlado para variáveis socioeconômicas, permaneceram significativas as associações entre transtornos emocionais e comportamentais e as seguintes variáveis: sexo feminino (OR = 1,98; IC95 por cento: 1,10-3,56, p = 0,02), e ter asma (OR = 2,66; IC95 por cento: 1,52-4,64, p = 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de transtornos emocionais e comportamentais em adolescentes portadores de asma é significativamente maior do que naqueles que não tem asma, reforçando a necessidade de uma abordagem interdisciplinar e sistêmica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with asthma and to compare it with that of adolescents without asthma. METHODS: A transversal study using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, administered to adolescents with or without asthma, ranging from 14 to 16 years of age and randomly selected from schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. RESULTS: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents with and without asthma was 20.4 percent (95 percent CI: 14.5-27.8 percent) and 9.0 percent (95 percent CI: 6.1-12.8 percent), respectively. Among adolescents with asthma, 56.6 percent (95 percent CI: 48.3-64.5 percent) presented normal scores, and 23.0 percent (95 percent CI 16.8-30.7 percent) presented borderline scores. Among adolescents without asthma, 75.0 percent (95 percent CI: 69.7-79.6 percent) presented normal scores, and 16.0 percent (95 percent CI: 12.2-20.7 percent) presented borderline scores. The median total score on the questionnaire was 14 and 12 among subjects with and without asthma, respectively (p < 0.01). In the final logistic regression model, adjusted for socioeconomic variables, the association between emotional/behavioral disorders and the following variables remained significant: being female (OR = 1.98; 95 percent CI: 1.10-3.56; p = 0.02) and having asthma (OR = 2.66; 95 percent CI: 1.52-4.64; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders is higher in adolescents with asthma than in those without asthma, underscoring the need for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.