The association between attention deficiency and hyperactivity among the asthmatic children in Kashan

Asthma is among the most common chronic childhood disease. The recent studies suggest that some school and behavioral problems manifesting the hyperactivity symptoms are caused by asthma and its related treatment. While other studies show no association between these factors. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the comorbidity of attention deficiency and hyperactivity among the asthmatic children in Kashan during 2013.
In this case-control study, the asthmatic children (n=89) referring to the Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Kashan were selected based on purposive sampling method as the Case group and age/sex-matched healthy children (n=117) were randomly selected as Control group. The spirometry and pick flowmetry tests were used for the diagnosis of asthma. The DSM-IV criteria were also used for the diagnosis of attention deficiency associated with hyperactivity.
The comorbidity of attention deficiency and hyperactivity among the asthmatic children was 5 times more than the Control (P=0.001) (OR: 5.67, CI: 2.66-12.08). In this study no significant relation was seen between the attention deficiency associated with hyperactivity and the severity of asthma and also the sex (P=0.624 and P=0.06, respectively).
Asthma probably increase the risk of attention deficiency associated with hyperactivity. Therefore the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in asthmatic children is considered important.