Chaos in the Home Tied to Poor Asthma Control in Kids

Higher levels of chaos in the home, along with parental or child depression are risk factors for worse asthma outcomes in urban minority kids, finds a new study.

New study finds that a chaotic household may be a risk factor for worse asthma outcomes in urban minority kids, reveals a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Pediatrics.

"Higher levels of chaos - lack of organization or set routines, among other things - seems to be a pathway linking parental depression and worse child asthma control," said Sally Weinstein, associate professor of clinical psychiatry in the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and first author on the paper.

Asthma - Factors, Common Allergens, Diagnosis, Treatment, Support Groups, FAQs
It's a lung condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchi and constriction of the airways that result in coughing, wheezing or breathlessness. Allergy and other airway irritants can trigger it

‘Addressing parent and child depression and providing support to optimize household routines can improve children's asthma outcomes.’
Read More..

Minority urban youth have higher rates of asthma and are more likely to have poor outcomes or even die of asthma compared to the general population. While much research exists on medications and prevention, researchers are just starting to understand how psychosocial factors affect asthma and how they might contribute to disparities.

Several studies have found that children with depression and anxiety have worse asthma outcomes, including more severe asthma and more use of rescue medications. Some studies have linked parents' depression with worse asthma outcomes in their children, while others have shown that family conflict is associated with higher levels of asthma severity.

Weinstein and colleagues wanted to look at the interplay between parent, child, and family functioning and child asthma control in urban minority youth with uncontrolled asthma. Uncontrolled asthma is when children have excessive asthma symptoms and rescue medication use. The consequences of uncontrolled asthma can be severe.

Asthma in Children and Adults - Facts, Treatment and Symptoms
Adult and childhood asthma are caused due to inflammation of the airways, but differences exist in their intensity and triggers.

The researchers looked at the relationship between parent depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, symptoms; child depression and PTSD symptoms; and child asthma control among 223 children between the ages of 5 and 16 years and one of their parents. The participants were enrolled in a longitudinal study examining educational interventions to help improve asthma control called the Asthma Action at Erie Trial.

Weinstein and colleagues collected data on depression, PTSD, and family chaos via in-person interviews before the parents and children started the study intervention. Asthma control was measured with the Asthma Control Test, a standardized survey that evaluates asthma severity and symptoms in children. Parents were also asked about the number of days in the last two weeks when the child's activity was limited due to asthma symptoms, and the child's asthma medications.

Tests for Asthma - Medical and Family History, Diagnosis & Treatment
Do you find it difficult to breathe especially during the cold weather? You may need to get tested for asthma, a respiratory condition that is induced by allergies.

The researchers found that parent and childhood depressive symptoms, but not PTSD symptoms, were associated with worse child asthma control. Higher levels of family chaos were also associated with worse child asthma control even when the researchers controlled for parent and child depression.

Family chaos was evaluated using a 15-item questionnaire that asked respondents to rate statements such as "No matter how hard we try, we always seem to be running late;" "We can usually find things when we need them;" "We always seem to be rushed;" and "Our home is a good place to relax."

Pediatric Asthma Yardstick � A New Guideline for Doctors
The Pediatric Asthma Yardstick provides clinicians who treat children with asthma practical and clinically relevant recommendations for each step-up and each intervention, with the intent of helping practitioners better treat their pediatric patients with asthma.

The researchers found that family chaos explained part of how parent depression affected child asthma control.

"When a parent is depressed, it's harder to keep the family routines running smoothly, and it's also harder to manage the daily demands of caring for their child's asthma, which can require multiple medications and avoidance of triggers," said Weinstein, who is also associate director of the University of Illinois Center on Depression and Resilience. "We saw that in families with greater household chaos, child asthma control tended to be worse."

"Our findings highlight the role of family chaos in worse asthma outcomes for children in these families," said Dr. Molly Martin, associate professor of pediatrics in the UIC College of Medicine and the study's principal investigator. "Pediatricians and asthma specialists should consider and address parent and child depression and provide support to optimize household routines as a way to help improve children's asthma control."

Source-Eurekalert