A study of the relationship between cognitive ability and emotional functioning and allergic disorders in young women
There was a higher prevalence of psychological/psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, sleep disturbances in women with allergies, and possible related poor quality of life.
Fereidouni, M., Rezapour, H., Saharkhiz, M. etal. A study of the association between cognitive ability and emotional functioning and allergic diseases in young women. BMC Women's Health 21, 205 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01345-x
Commentary
The possibility that allergic disorders have a bidirectional causal relationship with mental disorders has been considered, and the cross-sectional study presented assessed the association between cognitive ability and emotional functioning tests and the presence of allergic disorders in young women and their quality of life.
The study.
The presence and severity of allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, and atopic dermatitis (AD), as well as depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and sleepiness, were assessed using validated questionnaires, and cognitive ability and quality of life were assessed using standard instruments.
Results.
181 young women were participants in the study and
AR: 26.5%.
Asthma: 2.8%.
AD: 14.9%.
The AR group scored higher than the non-AR group on depression, anxiety and insomnia, and lower on quality of life related to physical and mental health.
In addition, AD showed higher scores on measures of depression and stress compared to situations without it (p <0.05). In addition, asthmatics showed significantly higher severity of insomnia and lower quality of life related to physical health than non-asthmatics.
However, due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, it does not prove an association between allergic diseases and mental disorders, and it is stated that large longitudinal studies are needed to prove the mechanism.
