Predictors of the Persistence of Childhood Asthma

Abstract

Background: The factors relevant to the prognosis of childhood asthma differ from one population to another.

Objectives: To characterize the course of childhood asthma in the catchment area of our hospital, and to identify prognostic factors for this population.

Methods: All children given a diagnosis of asthma in the paediatric pulmonology service of a tertiary hospital were followed up for 5 years.

Results: Satisfactory control of asthma was achieved in 69 % of cases. The factors identified as associated with poor control were allergy to cats and pollen, a large number of crises in the year prior to diagnosis, and younger age at onset.

Conclusions: In our region, childhood asthma has a relatively favourable prognosis. The subsequent course of the disease appears to be determined in childhood. The persistence of symptoms appears to depend to a significant extent on the degree of atopy.