title: Quality of life in adolescents with asthma, during the transition period from child to adult.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present investigation was designed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adolescents with asthma between the age of 16 and 21, when they are transferred from paediatric to adult care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 156 teenagers (69 females) with asthma were screened employing spirometry, a histamine challenge, skin prick test for allergy and filled out the 'Living with Asthma Questionnaire' both at the time of entry into the study and after 2 and 5 years of follow-up. An exercise test and questions concerning regular performed exercise were carried out at baseline and 5 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At all three time-points, the HRQOL of the men was generally better than that of the women. At the same time, the HRQOL of both genders was significantly better, both in terms of the overall scores (P < 0.001) as well as the scores for most of the individual domains, in connection with the 5-year follow-up. The young women who exercised regularly at the time of their entry exhibited better HRQOL at this time than those who did not (P < 0.001), whereas regular exercise had no impact on the HRQOL of the young men. The women with severe asthma demonstrated a poorer HRQOL than those suffering from mild-to-moderate asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HRQOL of adolescents with asthma improves with age. The pronounced positive correlation between regular exercise and HRQOL in female adolescents with asthma revealed here deserves special attention in the care of young women and deserves further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and allergic diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. kerstin.sundell@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundell
authors.forename: Sten-Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hedlin
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ygge
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tunsäter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult