Depression in asthmatic patients associated with increased airway obstruction: Study

This cross-sectional research comprised asthmatic nonsmokers who were at least 18 years old. Participants completed questionnaires, took a spirometry test, and went to a chest doctor consultation as part of the study. Additionally, binary logistic regression analyses that were crude and adjusted were run.

The key findings of this study were:

1.A total of 309 asthmatic individuals were enrolled, of whom 48 had depression and were taking antidepressants, 52 did not and 209 did not (control group).

2.In comparison to the control group, asthmatic participants with depression who had not previously used antidepressants were more likely to experience uncontrolled asthma symptoms (adjusted OR 3.10, 95CI (1.56-6.15)) and airway obstruction (adjusted OR 2.41, 95CI (1.24-4.69)).

3.Antidepressant users reported greater chances of uncontrolled asthma symptoms than the control group (adjusted OR 3.02, 95CI (1,50-6.07)), but equal risks of airway obstruction (adjusted OR 1.24, 95CI (0.87-1.77)).

In conclusion, the outcome of this study clearly states the association of modifiable behaviors of depression and its impact on airway blockage. Asthma patients should routinely be screened for depression, and doctors should provide antidepressants if depression symptoms call for pharmacological treatment.

Reference:

Theodoro, E. E., Rocha, D. G. da, Bertolino, J. R., Guinossi, R. M., Burch, M. O., Mingotti, C. F. B., Assunção, R. P., & Ponte, E. V. (2022). Evaluating the effect of antidepressants on the relationship between depression and asthma. In Respiratory Medicine (p. 107099). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107099