Prognosis of adult asthma: a 7-year follow-up study

Studies on adult-onset asthma and the contributing factors for its prognosis are few in the literature.

To evaluate asthma prognosis, remission rate, and contributing factors in an adult patient population.

Two hundred patients with a diagnosis of adult-onset asthma in 2006 were included in this study. Of these, 160 were contacted in 2013 and participated in the study. Their demographic features, family history, clinical symptoms, pulmonary function test results, and Asthma Control Test scores were re-evaluated. Patients' asthma control status was determined. Patients who had total control and had not used any asthma treatment for at least 2 years were classified as in remission.

The study group consisted of 160 patients (144 women and 16 men, mean age 52.9 ± 10.3 years). Nearly 70% of patients had adult-onset asthma before 40 years of age. According to asthma control status, 21.9% of patients had uncontrolled asthma, 29.4% had partially controlled asthma, and 48.8% had totally controlled asthma. Remission was observed in 11.3% of the entire study group. The mean age of the remission group was significantly younger. Disease duration was shorter and the proportion of patients with atopy was larger in the totally controlled and remission groups. Except in the remission group, patients showed weight gain from 2006 through 2013.

According to these 7-year follow up data, the remission rate of asthma was 11.3%. Patients with younger age, younger onset, atopy, allergic rhinitis, and few comorbidities seemed to have a greater possibility of remission.