Background Asthma can be associated with substantial quality of life (QoL) alteration, productivity loss and activity impairment. We sought to assess the quality of life and the performance characteristics of an asthma-specific adaptation of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:Asthma) in Tunisian young and active patients with asthma

Patients and Methods A prospective study was carried out during a year in active asthmatic patients, aged less than 65 years and consulting in the pulmonology department of a public hospital in central region of Tunisia. The WPAI:Asthma was administered to assess productivity loss. Asthma Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) in its validated arabic version was used to assess the QoL.

Results One hundred and one patients were enrolled in this study. Patients had a mean age of 44.2±13.2 years and were predominantly female (66.3%). The mean job tenure was 7.3±7.7 years. Workers belonged to the textile sector in 29.3% of cases. Asthma was allergic in 84.2% of cases and occupational in 18.2%. Asthma was uncontrolled in 62.4% and worsened at work in 71.3%. The mean AQLQ score was 5.08±1.2. This score was statistically correlated with the occupational etiology (p=0.001), the worsening of asthma symptoms at work (p=0.016), the absence of professional reclassification (p=0.002), the severity asthmatic disease (p= 0.001) and uncontrolled asthma (p=0.001). Absenteeism was 4.2±14.6% while presenteeism was 33.1±25.9%. The resulting loss of productivity was 30.4±22.2%. Activity impairment was statistically correlated with female gender (p=0.02), alcohol consumption (p=0.001), occupational etiology (p=0.03) and uncontrolled asthma (p=0.001).

Conclusion This study revealed significant levels of activity impairment and QoL alteration among active and young patients suffering from asthma. Improving asthma control, working condition and mental health may be important targets for enhancing workplace productivity in asthma. Presenteeism, absenteeism and productivity loss may represent key metrics to assess intervention effectiveness in active and young patients.