Asthma and Women

The aim of this study was to examine associated psychosocial fac- tors and other medical conditions influencing asthma control in asthmatic women. One hundred ninety seven asthmatic female patients (mean age: 39±9.49 years; mean duration of illness:11.58±8.76 years) and 52 healthy married female controls (mean age: 41.67+9.81 years) we­re included in the study. The data were collected through question­naires given to patients and controls which included questions on issues relating to social life, menstruation, sexual life, pregnancy and menopause. Over half (53.3%) of the asthmatic patients were found to be pas­sive smokers, as compared to 28.8% of the controls. However, 25% of the controls were active smokers while only 3.5% of the patients smoked. Eleven women (6.6%) reported violent behaviour from their partners and this rate was similar to that of controls. Ninety- nine (59.6%) patients had associated sexual disorders; eighty three (42.1%) patients had stress urinary incontinence. In the control group these rates were 15.5% and 11.5%, respectively (p<0.05). 128 patients (64-9%) had psychosocial disorders due to asthma. 58 (38.6%) patients experienced increase in asthma symptoms during premenstrual or menstrual periods. Out of 99 episodes of pregnancy, 32 (32.3%) had worsened asthma symptoms during pregnancy. Twenty-two (51.1%) cases experienced worsening of symptoms in the menopausal period. The results of this study indicate that asthma may have a negative influence on a woman’s social and sexual life. In addition to routi­ne therapy, it is important to give a special place to women in pati­ent education and to encourage them to have a healthy social/sexu- al life.