Outcome of asthma: longitudinal changes in lung function

Current know ledge about factors determining outcome of asthma is limited, but observations over the last fen. decades suggest that active asthma has a negative impact on the longitudinal changes in lung function. This review aims to give an overview of the present knowledge concerning longitudinal changes in lung function, including clinical markers for distinctly poor ou tcome with regard to lung function, in children and adults suffering from a sthma. The majority of patients with asthma have a good prognosis. However, some p atients with asthma, especially those with more severe disease, are at risk of impaired growth of lung function during childhood, a lower maximally at tained level of lung function and excessive decline in lung function in adu lthood, which may lead to life-threatening lung function impairment. Clinic al markers of poorly controlled airway inflammation appear to have a negati ve impact on the longitudinal changes in lung function, and disease progres sion to nonreversible airflow obstruction may be observed in a minority of patients with asthma. Early intervention with anti-inflammatory therapy may improve the short-ter m outcome of asthma, but long-term controlled studies are clearly needed in order to verify whether or not treatment, especially with inhaled corticos teroids, according to the current international guidelines alters the natur al history of asthma, i.e. disease progression with regard to changes in lu ng function and possible development of nonreversible airflow obstruction.