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Asthma symptoms in early childhood - what happened then?
S282 Abstracts
1025
Asthma Symptoms in Early Childhood - What Happened Then?
TUESDAY
G. Wennergren, E. Goksör, M. Åmark, P. M. Gustafsson, B. Alm; Department of Pediatrics, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, SWEDEN. RATIONALE: To predict which children with early wheezing will develop persistent asthma, it is of interest to study the outcome of children with early asthma symptoms and analyze the factors associated with persistent asthma. METHODS: We followed 101 children who before 2 years of age were hospitalized due to asthma symptoms. When aged 4-5 years, 50% had asthma and at 10 years 30%. We now reinvestigated the children at the age of 17-20 years with a questionnaire and allergy and lung function testing. For comparison, 401 controls, matched for age and gender, were randomly selected. RESULTS: At 17-20 years, 43% in the index group had had asthma symptoms in the preceding 12 months, 27% mild and 16% moderate or severe asthma (rr 88%). In the control group, 14% reported asthma symptoms in the preceding year (rr 72%). In the index group, persistent asthma correlates to allergic sensitization. The more severe the asthma, the stronger the correlation. In the index group, there was also a significant correlation between asthma now and early exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Also this relationship was more obvious the more severe the asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Current asthma symptoms in 43% in the follow-up group is a higher prevalence than expected. The correlation between asthma and allergy is strong. The correlation between asthma now and early passive smoking is partly in contrast to what has been reported by others. It has been suggested that the connection between early tobacco smoke exposure is seen in early childhood but is less obvious later. Funding: Faculty of Medicine, Gothenburg University
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL FEBRUARY 2004
1025
Asthma Symptoms in Early Childhood - What Happened Then?
TUESDAY
G. Wennergren, E. Goksör, M. Åmark, P. M. Gustafsson, B. Alm; Department of Pediatrics, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, SWEDEN. RATIONALE: To predict which children with early wheezing will develop persistent asthma, it is of interest to study the outcome of children with early asthma symptoms and analyze the factors associated with persistent asthma. METHODS: We followed 101 children who before 2 years of age were hospitalized due to asthma symptoms. When aged 4-5 years, 50% had asthma and at 10 years 30%. We now reinvestigated the children at the age of 17-20 years with a questionnaire and allergy and lung function testing. For comparison, 401 controls, matched for age and gender, were randomly selected. RESULTS: At 17-20 years, 43% in the index group had had asthma symptoms in the preceding 12 months, 27% mild and 16% moderate or severe asthma (rr 88%). In the control group, 14% reported asthma symptoms in the preceding year (rr 72%). In the index group, persistent asthma correlates to allergic sensitization. The more severe the asthma, the stronger the correlation. In the index group, there was also a significant correlation between asthma now and early exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Also this relationship was more obvious the more severe the asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Current asthma symptoms in 43% in the follow-up group is a higher prevalence than expected. The correlation between asthma and allergy is strong. The correlation between asthma now and early passive smoking is partly in contrast to what has been reported by others. It has been suggested that the connection between early tobacco smoke exposure is seen in early childhood but is less obvious later. Funding: Faculty of Medicine, Gothenburg University
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL FEBRUARY 2004