Investigation of the relationship between socioeconomic level and disease control in asthmatic women

Asthma is an important public health problem characterized by chronic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity and caused by genetic and environmental factors. Control of asthma is important in maintaining the quality of life and pulmonary function of patients. Although there are many studies on asthma control, there have been many publications that socioeconomic factors may be associated with disease control, especially in terms of chronic diseases. Many studies were found that asthma control was worse in patients with low socioeconomic status.The majority of adult asthmatic patients are women. Women are most affected by socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and asthma control in women with asthma. Our study is important in terms of being the first study investigating the relationship between socioeconomic status and asthma control in Turkey. In this study,204 female patients were included. The mean age of the participants was 47.614.4 years. According to the asthma control test, 68.6% of the patients were uncontrolled, 14.7% were in partial control and 16.7% were in well-control. Increased income status, which is a determinant of socioeconomic level,was found to affect asthma control and increase the control level( OR=2.63 %95 GA 1.07-6.43) (p=0.03). When socioeconomic level scores were examined in our study, there was no relationship with asthma control. Regular usage of asthma medications has increased asthma control, regardless of socioeconomic factors. In addition, cleaning at home was an important parameter affecting asthma control. The increasing frequency of cleaning and cleaning affects asthma control in a negative way. The presence of additional diseases accompanying asthma makes it difficult to control asthma. When the perception of the welfare of the patients was examined; the higher welfare level, the more asthma control increases (OR=1.93 %95 GA 1.02-3.67) (p=0.04). As a result; An important factor affecting asthma control in female asthmatic patients is income which is a part of socioeconomic status. Asthma control was found to be better in patients with high-income status. The increase in the perceived welfare levels of individuals independent from income status was also found to be effective in providing asthma control.