Researchers from the Air Pollution and Respiratory Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are twice as prevalent among adults with asthma than in the general population. Among adults with asthma, the prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) was 7.5%, compared with 3% among the general population.
The study published in the American College of Chest Physicians’ journal CHEST also found that adults with asthma who reported lower socioeconomic status, history of smoking or alcohol abuse, and more comorbid chronic conditions had significantly higher odds of SPD. Researchers analyzed data from 186,738 adult respondents from the 2001-2007 National Health Interview Survey.
The findings suggest the importance of mental health screenings for adults with asthma.
