Quality of life of primary caregivers by severity and control of children's asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined how the quality of life (QOL) of primary caregivers of children with asthma varies according to asthma severity and control. We also compared caregiver QOL with that of caregivers of healthy children and explored variation across specific QOL domains. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to October 2023. Eligible studies reported caregiver QOL in relation to asthma severity, asthma control, or healthy controls. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. QOL scores were standardised to a 0-100 scale (0 = lowest, 100 = highest) and synthesised using random-effects meta-analysis. Thirteen studies were included. Caregivers of healthy children had the highest QOL (79.63; 95% CI: 69.51-89.75), while those of children with severe persistent asthma reported lower scores (59.63; 95% CI: 55.26-64.00). QOL was also higher among caregivers of children with good asthma control (76.71; 95% CI: 67.58-85.84) compared to those with poor control (62.48; 95% CI: 50.15-74.81). Emotional well-being and activity limitations were the domains most consistently associated with severity and control levels. Caregiver QOL is associated with asthma severity and control. Our findings underscore the need for consistent symptom monitoring and management, and suggest that caregiver support should be a routine consideration in paediatric asthma care.