EPA-0968 – Depression, Anxiety and Intellectual Abilities in Patients with Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Preliminary Results

Abstract

In the literature there are examples of comorbidity of respiratory tract diseases (particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and mental diseases, especially anxiety, depressive and cognitive disorders.

The research project was aimed to confirm a connection between psycho-intellectual functioning and suffering from aforementioned diseases. Participants of the research project were divided into 3 groups. In the asthma group there were 17 people, mean age 51. The COPD group was formed by 22 people, mean age 67. The control group included 18 people, mean age 49. Patients from all groups underwent spirometry, sputum induction and the following tests: Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test, Beck Depression Inventory – and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults.

In the TMT tests (Part A and B) results were as follows: in control group 31 s and 70 s, in the asthma group 36 s and 96 s and in the COPD group 41 s and 104 s. In the Beck Depression Inventory the lowest mean score was obtained in the control group - 7 points, then in asthma group - 8 points and in COPD group - 12 points. Results for STAI (Part A and B) were distributed as follows: in the asthma group - 35 and 40 points; in the COPD group 39 and 43 points and in the control group 34 and 36 points.

Concluding, in the research study the level of anxiety and depression measured by self-assessment questionnaires in the study groups was higher and cognitive functions were worse than in healthy control.