Knowledge of asthmatic disease as a pneumonia protective factor

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether knowledge of asthmatic disease may be a protective factor against the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in people with asthma over the age of 18 who receive inhaled treatment.

Method: observational study of cases and controls in a population with asthma. One hundred and twenty-three people with asthma diagnosed with pneumonia were recruited according to clinical and radiological criteria (cases), and 246 people with asthma not diagnosed with pneumonia during the past year (controls), matched by age. The main study factor was the assessment of knowledge about asthmatic disease through an ad hoc questionnaire, with seven questions and two possible answers (known, unknown).

Results: the bivariate analysis shows that knowledge of asthmatic disease has a statistically significant association as a protective factor of CAP. In the multivariate analysis, it shows an association of knowledge of asthmatic disease as a protective factor of CAP (OR=.24), regardless of age, level of studies, functionality, and severity of asthma.

Conclusions: A good knowledge of asthmatic disease reduces the risk of CAP in asthmatic patients using inhaled treatment.

Keywords: Asma; Asthma; Compliance and adherence to treatment; Cumplimiento y adherencia al tratamiento; Neumonía; Pneumonia.