The clinical course of bronchial asthma from childhood to adult age
Zawistowska, E.; Szmidt, M.
Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 6(35): 248-251
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1426-9686 PMID: 10437392 Document Number: 507221
The aim of the study was to establish improvement and deterioration rate adolescence and in age over 20 years (young adults) in comparison with clinical course of asthma in those persons before adolescence. The study group consisted of 93 persons whose asthma started in childhood (mean age 4.50 +/- 2.93). In all of the patients atopy was confirmed by positive skin prick tests with common aeroallergens. The clinical course of asthma was evaluated by means of a questionnaire and the patients were grouped according to asthma severity (Global Initiative for Asthma 1995). In young adults (mean age 23.38 +/- 3.2) in comparison with the clinical course of asthma in childhood (mean age 8.9 +/- 2.2) there was improvement in 58.1% (including 20% persons without symptoms), no change in asthma severity in 25.8% and worsening in 17.2% patients (irrespective of the group they had been initially classified into). There is a correlation between FEV1 before puberty and FEV1 in the adulthood. Among the investigated factors probably influencing the course of asthma, atopic dermatitis persisting after puberty occurred significantly more frequently in severe asthma. There is no correlation between improvement/deterioration of asthma and gender, atopy in family, smoking, pets in home and coexisting atopic diseases.