title: Remission and persistence of asthma followed from 7 to 19 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date, a limited number of population-based studies have prospectively evaluated the remission of childhood asthma. This work was intended to study the remission and persistence of childhood asthma and related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1996, a questionnaire was distributed to the parents of all children aged 7 to 8 years in 3 municipalities in northern Sweden, and 3430 (97%) participated. After a validation study, 248 children were identified as having asthma; these children were reassessed annually until age 19 years when 205 (83%) remained. During the follow-up period lung function, bronchial challenge testing, and skin prick tests were performed. Remission was defined as no use of asthma medication and no wheeze during the past 12 months as reported at endpoint and in the 2 annual surveys preceding endpoint (ie, for ≥ 3 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At age 19 years, 21% were in remission, 38% had periodic asthma, and 41% persistent asthma. Remission was more common among boys. Sensitization to furred animals and a more severe asthma (asthma score ≥ 2) at age 7 to 8 years were both inversely associated with remission, odds ratio 0.14 (95% confidence interval 0.04-0.55) and 0.19 (0.07-0.54), respectively. Among children with these 2 characteristics, 82% had persistent asthma during adolescence. Asthma heredity, damp housing, rural living, and smoking were not associated with remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probability of remission of childhood asthma from age 7- to 8-years to age 19 years was largely determined by sensitization status, particularly sensitization to animals, asthma severity, and female gender, factors all inversely related to remission.
authors.affiliation: The OLIN Studies, Norrbotten County Council, Luleå, Sweden. martin.andersson@envmed.umu.se
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjerg
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forsberg
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lundbäck
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rönmark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescence; asthma; longitudinal; remission; sensitization