Abstract
Background: Many children outgrow asthma in adolescence, but the risk of relapse in adulthood is sometimes of concern with regard to employment in occupations where asthma would pose a risk, such as aviation or fire fighting.
Methods: We have followed a birth-cohort of 1037 New Zealanders to age 26, with detailed respiratory histories at assessments at 2 year intervals to age 15, then at 18, 21 and 26 years. The likelihood of relapse in symptoms among those with previously diagnosed asthma but asymptomatic at age 18 was investigated.
Results: There were 176 study members who reported having doctor-diagnosed asthma ever when questioned at ages 9, 11, 13 or 15. Of those, 68 were asymptomatic when questioned at age 18. Of these 68 asymptomatic study members, 16 (24%) reported current asthma at age 21 years, and this persisted at age 26 in 8 study members. Of the 52 who remained asymptomatic at 21 years, 8 reported symptoms of asthma at age 26 years. Hence overall 24 of 68 (35%) of those with remission by age 18 experienced relapse at age 21 or 26 years.
Conclusions: Approximately one-third of adolescents with a childhood history of doctor-diagnosed asthma who are asymptomatic at age 18 will experience recurrence of symptoms of asthma by age 26 years.