Assessment of Quality of Life of Primary Caregivers of Egyptian Asthmatic Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Asthma as a serious public health problem worldwide exerts a serious load on children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and their families. OBJECTIVE: We assess the HRQOL of the primary caregivers of Egyptian asthmatic children and adolescents and its relation to HRQOL of their children and asthma severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 pairs of asthmatic children (7–16 years) and their primary caregivers. Pediatric asthma quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, pediatric asthma caregiver's QOL questionnaire, and asthma control questionnaire were used. RESULTS: Uncontrolled asthmatic patients had statistically significantly lower mean caregiver score compared to controlled asthmatic (P < 0.005). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between caregiver's individual and overall QOL scores and their children (individual and overall QOL scores) (P < 0.05). A statistically significant negative correlation between asthma severity and QOL scores of the caregivers of asthmatic children and adolescents was found (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The QOL of the primary caregivers of asthmatic children is significantly adversely affected by their children's illness severity.