title: Airway hyperresponsiveness and development of lung function in adolescence and adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term longitudinal studies of lung function from childhood to adulthood are important in linking our understanding of childhood risk factors to adult disease. Airway hyperresponsiveness has been shown to independently affect lung function growth in studies of adolescence. The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that airway hyperresponsiveness has an independent deleterious effect on lung function in adolescence that extends into adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random population sample (n = 983) aged 7-17 from Copenhagen was followed longitudinally for 20 years with four examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 780 (79.3%) subjects contributed with lung function measurements and bronchial provocation testing. Among these, 170 (21.8%) had airway hyperresponsiveness at one examination or more during the study period. There was no difference in initial FEV1 levels between subjects with and without airway hyperresponsiveness. In a repeated measures regression model with adjustment for asthma and smoking, airway hyperresponsiveness was independently associated with reduced rates of growth in lung function in both sexes of 23 ml/year. Reduced growth rates resulted in deficits in maximal attained level of lung function at age 18, which persisted throughout the follow-up until the last examination at age 27-37 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Airway hyperresponsiveness has an independent deleterious effect on lung function development from 7 to 37 years resulting in a lower maximal attained lung function and persistent deficits in lung function in adulthood.
authors: Respiratory and Allergy Research Unit, Dept. of Respiratory Medicine L, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: l.harmsen@dadlnet.dk.
authors: Lotte
authors: L
authors: Harmsen
authors: Dept. of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors: Charlotte S
authors: CS
authors: Ulrik
authors: Respiratory and Allergy Research Unit, Dept. of Respiratory Medicine L, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Celeste
authors: C
authors: Porsbjerg
authors: Respiratory and Allergy Research Unit, Dept. of Respiratory Medicine L, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Simon F
authors: SF
authors: Thomsen
authors: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Centre for Health and Society, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Holst
authors: Respiratory and Allergy Research Unit, Dept. of Respiratory Medicine L, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Vibeke
authors: V
authors: Backer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Airway hyperresponsiveness; Epidemiology; General population; Lung function