Risk factors for asthma after infant bronchiolitis

Abstract

Background

Five studies carried out after bronchiolitis at less than 24 months of age, with a follow up of more than 10 years, reported that atopic dermatitis, family asthma, early-life exposure to tobacco smoke and rhinovirus aetiology were early-life risk factors for later asthma. This study evaluated the long-term outcome at 11-13 years of age of children who were hospitalised for bronchiolitis in early infancy.

Methods

We previously prospectively followed 166 children hospitalised for bronchiolitis at less than six months of age until 5-7 years of age. The current study included a structured questionnaire, parental interviews, clinical examinations and bronchodilation test of 138 of those children at 11-13 years of age.

Results

Respiratory syncytial virus caused 66% of the bronchiolitis cases and nearly half of the patients were exposed to tobacco smoke in early life. Doctor-diagnosed asthma was present in 13% of the former bronchiolitis patients at 11-13 years of age. Maternal asthma was the only independently significant risk factor in early life (adjusted OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.07-11.74), as was allergic rhinitis at 5-7 years of age (adjusted OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.35-12.25).

Conclusions

After bronchiolitis at less than six months of age, the risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma at 11-13 years was about twice that of the general Finnish population. Maternal asthma was the only independently significant early-life risk factor for current asthma at 11-13 years of age.

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