title: Predictors of the persistence of childhood asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The factors relevant to the prognosis of childhood asthma differ from one population to another.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the course of childhood asthma in the catchment area of our hospital, and to identify prognostic factors for this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children given a diagnosis of asthma in the paediatric pulmonology service of a tertiary hospital were followed up for 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory control of asthma was achieved in 69 % of cases. The factors identified as associated with poor control were allergy to cats and pollen, a large number of crises in the year prior to diagnosis, and younger age at onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our region, childhood asthma has a relatively favourable prognosis. The subsequent course of the disease appears to be determined in childhood. The persistence of symptoms appears to depend to a significant extent on the degree of atopy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cabanas Rodriguez
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gonzalez Barcala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabanas Rodriguez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabanas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valdes Cuadrado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tojo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population