title: Risk factors for the persistence of respiratory symptoms in childhood asthma.
abstract: We studied the prognosis of childhood asthma in a cohort of 406 children 8 to 12 yr of age when enrolled. Subjects were followed for a mean of 14.8 yr after their initial evaluation, with a follow-up rate of 86%. The mean age at follow-up was 24.7 yr. We assessed the predictive value of sex and various childhood variables on the outcome of symptoms and medication use in adulthood. Although only 19% of subjects were still under a physician's supervision at the time of follow-up, 76% had respiratory symptoms, 32% used maintenance medication, and 22% used medication intermittently. The incidence of cigarette smoking was disturbingly high (33%). In adulthood, women were more likely than men to have symptoms (85 versus 72%, respectively). The childhood symptom severity and the childhood degree of bronchial responsiveness in combination with a low %FEV1 were also related to the outcome of asthma in adulthood. The high prevalence of symptoms in adults at follow-up coupled with the low rate of physician supervision and medication usage suggest that more aggressive treatment may be indicated in asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roorda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Van Aalderen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Veltman
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003371:Cough; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine