Effect of asthma on school performance among intermediate school students in Riyadh city, 2015-2016

Background: Studies about impact of asthma on school performance are limited in the published literature especially in Saudi Arabia. This study was done to assess the effect of asthma on school performance and examine the relationship between asthma control and school achievement.Methods: A cross-sectional study with a follow up of participants until the end of 2nd semester of (2015-2016). It was conducted among governmental intermediate school students (males and females 13 to15 years old) in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh city is divided into five main sectors; two schools were randomly selected from each sector. Students were recruited from all three grades (first, second and third year) with a total sample of 1058 students. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the students at the start of the 2nd semester. The students’ exam results were collected at the end of the 2nd semester.Results: After adjusting for covariates, a significant difference in final average points was found between students with uncontrolled asthma (n=87) and controlled asthma (n=107) with an adjusted mean difference of 5.38 (95% CI 2.09-8.67 p<0.001). No significant difference in final average points was found between asthmatic (n=210) and non-asthmatic (n=848) students with an adjusted mean difference of 1.24 (95% CI-0.57-3.06) p=0.179. Significant associations were detected between gender, nationality, socioeconomic status and poor school performance p<0.01.Conclusions: The study results suggest that students with uncontrolled asthma are more likely to perform worse in all subjects than students with controlled asthma.