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Factors influencing asthma remission: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle age
Citation
Burgess, JA and Matheson, MC and Gurrin, LC and Byrnes, GB and Adams, KS and Wharton, CL and Giles, GG and Jenkins, MA and Hopper, JL and Abramson, MJ and Walters, EH and Dharmage, SC, Factors influencing asthma remission: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle age, Thorax, 66, (6) pp. 508-513. ISSN 0040-6376 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © Walters, EH 2011. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd under licence
DOI: doi:10.1136/thx.2010.146845
Abstract
Objective To examine asthma remission from childhood
to middle age.
Methods This was a population-based cohort study. In
1968 the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study enrolled
8583 7-year-old Tasmanian schoolchildren who were
re-surveyed in 2004. Those reporting ever having asthma
when last surveyed completed another questionnaire in
2007 ascertaining age at last asthma attack and asthma
medication use. The main outcome measure was asthma
remission, defined as no asthma attack for 2 years and no
current asthma medication use, or no self-reported asthma
in adult life but with parent-reported childhood asthma.
Results Of 5729 respondents to the 2004 survey, 1238
self-reported asthma. A further 573 denied asthma, but
had parent-reported childhood asthma, giving a study
sample of 1811. Asthma had remitted in 1177 (65.0%)
of whom 649 (55.1%) were male. Childhood (OR 0.38,
95% CI 0.25 to 0.58) and later-onset allergic rhinitis
(0.42, 0.29 to 0.63), childhood (0.66, 0.47 to 0.94) and
later-onset eczema (0.66, 0.47 to 0.92), maternal
asthma (0.66, 0.47 to 0.92) and childhood chronic
bronchitis (0.56, 0.41 to 0.76) were negatively
associated with remission. There was weaker evidence
for a negative association between passive smoking
(0.75, 0.54 to 1.04) and lower socio-economic status
(p-trend 0.09) and remission. Childhood-onset asthma
(3.76, 2.58 to 5.49) was more likely to remit than
adult-onset asthma. Adult smoking was positively
associated with remission in childhood-onset asthma
(1.49, 1.06 to 2.09). Sex did not influence remission.
Conclusion While inherited factors cannot be changed,
the effect of allergic rhinitis or eczema on asthma
remission might be altered by early, aggressive
treatment. Every effort should be made to lessen passive
exposure to tobacco smoke.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology |
| Research Field: | Respiratory Diseases |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) |
| Objective Field: | Respiratory System and Diseases (incl. Asthma) |
| UTAS Author: | Walters, EH (Professor Haydn Walters) |
| ID Code: | 72549 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 45 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2011-08-29 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-03-26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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