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The Impact of Psychological Distress on Functional Disability in Asthma: Results From The Canadian Community Health Survey

Received December 13, 2006; revised April 6, 2007; accepted May 18, 2007. From the Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal Canada; the Depts. of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; and the Centre de Recherche Fernand Seguin, University of Montreal, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, Montreal, Canada. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Norbert Schmitz, Ph.D., Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3 Canada. e-mail: norbert.schmitz{at}mcgill.ca
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Asthma is associated with decreased health-related quality of life and increased physical comorbidity and mortality, high rates of clinic visits and hospitalizations, and loss of productivity in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the joint effect of psychological distress and asthma on functional disability in a community sample. METHOD: The authors used data from The Canadian Community and Health Survey (N=62,274). Psychological distress was measured by the 10-item Kessler (K-10) instrument. Asthma, disability days, self-assessed health status, and long-term reduction in activities were assessed by personal interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of functional disability was higher in subjects with asthma and comorbid psychological distress than in individuals with either asthma or psychological distress alone. CONCLUSION: Detecting and managing psychological problems might be particularly beneficial for persons with asthma.

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