Association between asthma control in children and loss of workdays by caregivers

L. Laforest 1 Donald Yin Vasilisa Sazonov Kocevar Yves Pacheco 2 Neville Dickson Frédéric Gormand 3 Eric van Ganse
1 HESPER - Health Service and Performance Research
2 Immunovirologie et polymorphisme génétique
3 Service de pneumologie [Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud - HCL]
Abstract : BACKGROUND: Although the economic burden of pediatric asthma is a significant public health issue, the loss of workdays by caregivers because of their children's asthma remains scarcely investigated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate asthma-related loss of workdays incurred by caregivers of asthmatic children and its association with the level of asthma control. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted based on a French computerized general practitioners' database and a survey questionnaire. Children aged 6 to 16 years with persistent asthma (Global Initiative for Asthma grade \\textgreater or = 2) were included in the study. Level of children's asthma control was evaluated from recent asthma symptoms. Caregivers reported the number of workdays lost because of their child's asthma during the 12-month study. RESULTS: Nearly 30% of caregivers lost workdays during the study because of their children's asthma. More than 13% of caregivers lost more than 5 days. Caregiver absenteeism significantly correlated with all components of asthma control (use of relievers, nocturnal symptoms, impairment of activities, and asthma crises). A significant 8-fold risk of losing more than 5 workdays by caregivers was observed when the child's asthma was poorly controlled (odds ratio, 8.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-30.5); caregivers' absenteeism also increased significantly with the number of episodes of oral corticosteroid use during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers' loss of workdays owing to their children's asthma is substantial and is highly correlated with the level of asthma control. These findings highlight the necessity of educational programs for children with poor asthma control and their caregivers to prevent severe asthma attacks that lead to caregiver absenteeism.
Keywords : Female Humans France Male Adolescent Treatment Outcome Retrospective Studies Questionnaires Child Follow-Up Studies Asthma Severity of Illness Index Drug Utilization Cross-Sectional Studies Anti-Asthmatic Agents Absenteeism Activities of Daily Living Caregivers Patient Education as Topic Status Asthmaticus
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Journal articles
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Submitted on : Friday, July 13, 2018 - 4:46:20 PM
Last modification on : Saturday, July 14, 2018 - 1:20:56 AM

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  • HAL Id : hal-01839005, version 1
  • PUBMED : 15478387

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L. Laforest, Donald Yin, Vasilisa Sazonov Kocevar, Yves Pacheco, Neville Dickson, et al.. Association between asthma control in children and loss of workdays by caregivers. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Elsevier, 2004, 93 (3), pp.265--271. ⟨hal-01839005⟩

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