Thoracic Research and Practice
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Asthma and Women

1.

SSK Süreyyapaşa Center of Chest Diseases, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey

2.

SSK Süreyyapaşa Center for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey

3.

Clinic of Chest Diseases, Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey

4.

Ministry of Health, Pendik Health Group Presidency, Pendik, İstanbul, Turkey

5.

SSK Süreyyapaşa Center for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul-Turkey

Thorac Res Pract 2004; 5: Turkish Respiratory Journal 140-143
Read: 479 Downloads: 344 Published: 11 October 2021

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.

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EISSN 2979-9139