title: The long-term outcomes of persistent childhood allergic asthma: a cross-sectional study from western Anatolia: childhood persistent asthma in western Anatolia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prospective cohort studies have provided useful knowledge about the natural history of asthma. However, most of the studies are conducted in western countries but the course of the disease and long-term outcomes may differ between countries due to environmental and cultural factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe the long-term outcomes of childhood asthma, with data from a follow-up study of at least 10 years, in western Anatolia, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients diagnosed with persistent allergic asthma participated in the study. The patient's demographics, findings on admission, age at onset of disease, time of diagnosis, history of other allergic conditions, history of parental asthma and allergic disorders, presence of pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy were obtained from patients' records. The factors influencing remission at the end of 10 years follow-up were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 patients (38.5%) were on remission at the end of 10 years. The type of allergen, multi-allergen sensitivity, eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E on admission, accompanying allergic disorders and atopy in parents, and allergen immunotherapy did not affect the remission rate (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood persistent asthma is not a homogeneous clinical entity but high clinical remission rates are obtained in western Anatolia. There is no significant predictor of clinical remission in long term follow-up. Prospective studies should be performed in larger asthmatic populations to obtain further data about the natural course of childhood asthma.
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Pediatrics, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Teaching and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: bagozlem78@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ö
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Bağ
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karaarslan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Günay
authors.forename: C Ş
authors.initials: CŞ
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Nacaroğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Asthma; Childhood; Immunotherapy; Long-term outcomes; Natural history