Predictive factors of persistent asthma in preschool children

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease. Symptoms often begin in the first 6 years of life. However, it is difficult to predict if asthma would persist till school age. The aims of this study were to identify the main predictive factors of persistent asthma in preschool children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in the pediatric department of Mongi Slim Hospital. Forty asthmatic preschool children were enrolled between January 2013 and December 2015. Results: After an average follow-up of 3 years, two groups were individualized: asymptomatic children or transient whistlers (50%) and symptomatic children or persistent whistlers (50%). The main predictors were personal history of allergic rhinitis (p=0.04), father's asthma (p=0.002), early age of first bronchiolitis (<6 months) (p=0.013), severity of asthma (p=0.007), and dust mite-positive skin tests (p=0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed two independent predictors: paternal asthma and initial severity of asthma. Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis, paternal asthma, history of bronchiolitis before age of 6 months, severe asthma, and dust mite-positive skin tests were associated with a high risk of persistent asthma.