Short form - 36 questionnaire for assessing quality of life in bronchial asthma patients

ABSTRACT

This aim of the present study was to apply the short form -36 [SF- 36]questionnaire in patients with bronchial asthma and to assess the relationship between symptom score and ventilatory pulmonary function, with the scores of the nine component of the SF-36. This study was carried out on one hundred and forty two patients with stable bronchial asthma of variable severity [forced expiratory volume in 1[st] second FEV[1] ranged from 55 to 73% of predicted], they were 60 males and 82 females with their ages ranged from 16 to 49 years. All patients were subjected to ventilatory pulmonary function measurements using computerized sensor medics 2450 apparatus before and 20 minutes after inhalation of 200 micro g of salbutamol using metered dose inhaler. The clinical severity of asthma was assessed according to the symptom frequency score of Reddel et al., [15]. Every patient completed SF-36 questionnaire which is composed of 36 items, measuring three major health attributes and nine health concepts. The result of this study showed that the older patients had the severe asthma score. Most SF-36 scores were significantly higher in men than in women. The symptom score showed significantly negative correlation with all items of SF-36 scores. While the FEV[1]% predicted was significantly positively correlated with five of the nine health components of the SF-36 questionnaire, the forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of vital capacity% predicted [FEF[25-75%]] and the forced expiratory flow at 75-85% of vital capacity% predicted [FEF[75-85%]] showed only significantly positive correlation with three of the nine health component of the questionnaire. In conclusion, the SF-36 questionnaire can be used as a tool to measure health related quality of life [HQL] in asthmatics. The severity of symptom score but not the ventilatory pulmonary function was a significant predictor of various component of HQL [SF-36]