Frequent mental distress is common among adults with asthma and is associated with unhealthy behaviours that raise the risk of disease flare-ups. Previous reports have shown a strong association between depressive disorders and asthma. However, the association has not been studied. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA, analysed the data from 15,080 adults. Nearly 19 per cent of adults with asthma had frequent mental distress. Subjects reported their mental health was not good for at least 14 days out of 30. In a separate analysis, the prevalence of frequent mental distress among subjects without asthma was just 9.3 per cent. In the study group, the presence of frequent mental distress increased the odds of smoking and physical inactivity by 90 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. Moreover, subjects with frequent mental distress were more likely to report fair/poor general health, frequent physical distress, frequent activity limitations, frequent anxiety, and frequent sleepiness than their peers without frequent mental distress. The findings suggest that there is a twofold increase in frequent mental distress between subjects with and without current asthma. The patients can complete some mental health questionnaires while they are waiting to see a doctor. If these screening tests are positive for depressive symptoms, the clinician might refer the patient to a mental health professional.
Chest,
December 2004