Impact of anxiety and depression on disease control and quality of life in asthma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with asthma also tend to have anxiety and depression. These comorbidities may affect asthma control and quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of anxiety and depression on asthma control and quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of asthma outpatients was conducted at two hospitals in the Basque Country (northern Spain). Data collected included sociodemographic variables, asthma symptoms, treatment, number of exacerbations, level of control, quality of life, presence of psychological morbidities, and level of physical activity. Spirometry was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery. RESULTS: Among 354 asthmatics, 77% had poor or partial control of their condition, 31% had anxiety alone, 2% had depression alone, and 10% had anxiety plus depression. Poor asthma control was associated with anxiety plus depression (odds ratio (OR): 3.61; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-12.41) as well as with female patients (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11-3.10). Anxiety had an independent effect on reduced quality of life across all domains; anxiety plus depression had an even greater effect. CONCLUSION: Among patients with asthma, anxiety and depression adversely affect asthma control and quality of life, raising the possibility that treating these psychological comorbidities could improve asthma control and quality of life.

Prevalencia de silicosis en una marmolería tras la exposición a conglomerados de cuarzo / Prevalence of silicosis in a marble factory after exposure to quartz conglomerates

En esta nota mostramos la elevada prevalencia de silicosis encontrada en una marmolería tras una exposición a una novedosa presentación de sílice.Se trata de un estudio observacional, prospectivo, en el que se han estudiado 11 trabajadores que se exponen desde 1995 a diversas presentaciones de superficies de cuarzo. Los puestos de trabajo se dividen en dos grupos: por una parte 4 sujetos desarrollan trabajos de corte en el taller; el resto de los trabajadores trabaja en el montaje. Hasta la fecha no han utilizado sistemas de protección respiratoria específicos.Se han diagnosticado 6 casos de silicosis, lo que supone una prevalencia de enfermedad para este ámbito del 54,5%. De los 6 afectados, 5 (83,33%) son montadores.Destacamos el elevado riesgo de desarrollo de silicosis en el manejo de los diversos productos que conforman la gama de superficies de cuarzo(AU)

In this note we present the increased prevalence of silicosis found in a marble factory after exposure to a new presentation of silica.A prospective, observational study was conducted on 11 workers who were exposed to different presentations of quartz surfaces since 1995. The jobs were divided into two groups: 4 subjects worked in the cutting workshop; the rest of the workers worked in assembly. Up to that date they had not used any specific respiratory protection apparatus.Six cases of silicosis have been diagnosed, which assumes a disease prevalence in this environment of 54.5%. Of the 6 affected, 5 (83.3% are assemblers.We highlight the high risk of developing silicosis in the handling of different products which make up the range of quartz surfaces(AU)

Prevalence of silicosis in a marble factory after exposure to quartz conglomerates.

In this note we present the increased prevalence of silicosis found in a marble factory after exposure to a new presentation of silica. A prospective, observational study was conducted on 11 workers who were exposed to different presentations of quartz surfaces since 1995. The jobs were divided into two groups: 4 subjects worked in the cutting workshop; the rest of the workers worked in assembly. Up to that date they had not used any specific respiratory protection apparatus. Six cases of silicosis have been diagnosed, which assumes a disease prevalence in this environment of 54.5%. Of the 6 affected, 5 (83.3% are assemblers. We highlight the high risk of developing silicosis in the handling of different products which make up the range of quartz surfaces.