The course of asthma in young adults: a population-based nine-year follow-up on asthma remission and control.
BACKGROUND
Only few longitudinal studies on the course of asthma among adults have been carried out.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present prospective study, carried out between 2000 and 2009 in Italy, is to assess asthma remission and control in adults with asthma, as well as their determinants.


METHODS
All the subjects with current asthma (21-47 years) identified in 2000 in the Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults in 6 Italian centres were followed up. Asthma remission was assessed at follow-up in 2008-2009 (n = 214), asthma control at baseline and follow-up. Asthma remission and control were related to potential determinants by a binomial logistic and a multinomial logistic model. Separate models for remission were used for men and women.


RESULTS
The estimate of the proportion of subjects who were in remission was 29.7% (95%CI: 14.4%;44.9%). Men who were not under control at baseline had a very low probability of being in remission at follow-up (OR = 0.06; 95%CI:0.01;0.33) when compared to women (OR = 0.40; 95%CI:0.17;0.94). The estimates of the proportion of subjects who were under control, partial control or who were not under control in our sample were 26.3% (95%CI: 21.2;31.3%), 51.6% (95%CI: 44.6;58.7%) and 22.1% (95%CI: 16.6;27.6%), respectively. Female gender, increasing age, the presence of chronic cough and phlegm and partial or absent asthma control at baseline increased the risk of uncontrolled asthma at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma remission was achieved in nearly 1/3 of the subjects with active asthma in the Italian adult population, whereas the proportion of the subjects with controlled asthma among the remaining subjects was still low.
Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Lucia
L
Cazzoletti
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Angelo Guido
AG
Corsico
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Federica
F
Albicini
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Eti Maria Giulia
EM
Di Vincenzo
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Erica
E
Gini
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Amelia
A
Grosso
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Vanessa
V
Ronzoni
Unit of Respiratory Medicine, National Health Service, Turin, Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Bugiani
Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Pietro
P
Pirina
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Isa
I
Cerveri
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D012737:Sex Factors; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; D013806:Theophylline