Quality of Life in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease vs Asthma Only

Patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) had a higher quality of life with fewer symptoms of depression, despite the fact that their asthma severity was higher than in patients with asthma only, according to a recent study in the Journal of Asthma.

This pilot study evaluated 32 patients with AERD and 39 patients with asthma using demographic questionnaires, depression inventories, quality of life surveys, self-evaluated asthma reports, and spirometry assessment Researchers analyzed the psychological well-being, quality of life, and asthma control of patients with AERD.

Patients with AERD reported severe-persistent asthma 61.3% of the time, and severe asthma 12.9% of the time. They also had significantly lower levels of depression symptoms (M=8.88±9.77) and a higher quality of life (P <.001) compared with patients with asthma only. Asthma quality of life was associated with duration of asthma, and self-reported severity of asthma was not.

These findings indicated a pattern of psychological resilience in patients with AERD, which could be related to a later age at diagnosis, biological factors, or underlying psychiatric disorders in patients with asthma only. This study had a small sample size and warrants further evaluation of leukotriene levels and a larger encompassing quality of life questionnaire.

In conclusion, patients with AERD have a more positive outlook on asthma, as evidenced by lower depression symptoms and high quality of life, despite having more severe asthma impairment compared with patients who have asthma only.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health. Please refer to reference for a complete list of authors’ disclosures.

Reference

Feldman JM, Zeigler AE, Nelson K, et al.  Depression symptoms and quality of life among individuals with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease [published online July 4, 2018]. J Asthma. doi:10.1080/02770903.2018.1490754