LONG-TERM RISK-FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING ASTHMA AND ALLERGIC RHINITIS - A 23-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF COLLEGE-STUDENTS

In the initial study of 23 years ago, 1836 college freshmen were prosp ectively evaluated by questionnaires, interviews, and physical examina tions for medical conditions which included the presence of asthma, al lergic rhinitis, and positive allergy skin tests to a battery of polle ns, animal extracts, and mold. In a 23-year follow-up study, 1021 (64% ) returned their completed questionnaires. Of these, 738 (72%) had bee n skin tested as freshmen. The results of this follow-up study reveale d that the frequency of asthma and allergic rhinitis continue to incre ase as the individuals become older. Allergic rhinitis and positive al lergy skin tests are significant risk factors for developing new asthm a. Individuals with either of these diagnoses are about three times mo re likely to develop asthma than negative controls. Positive allergy s kin tested students have more than twice (2.3x) the risk of developing new hay fever than do negative skin tested students over a 23-year pe riod. Asthma correlated to allergies in that 61% (51/84) of our asthma tic subjects have positive allergy skin tests. It is suggested that al l asthmatic patients have an allergy evaluation to identify and possib ly remove asthma trigger sources.