Predictors for the severity of bronchial hyperreactivity in childhood asthma

Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a common characteristic of asthma and is shown to be a risk factor in the development and outcome of asthma. In thi s study, we aimed to assess the risk factors at referral for the severity o f BHR, which was determined at the end of a mean of 3 yr of follow-up in 98 children with asthma (mean (+/- SD) age, 11.0 (+/- 3.4) yr, male/female = 50/48]. We also evaluated the cross-sectional risk factors for the severity of BHR in the observed children. Information on risk factors at referral w as collected from the computer records of the patients followed by an end-o f-study visit. Lung function, skin-prick, and bronchial provocation tests w ere done and total serum IgE level was measured on this visit. The relation ship between BHR and risk factors was investigated by multiple linear regre ssion analysis. A lower level of FEV1% at referral was found to be an impor tant predictor of more severe BHR at the end of the follow-up. None of the other risk factors evaluated predicted the severity of current BHR. We conc luded that decreased lung function at referral is associated with a more se vere BHR determined at the end of a 3-yr follow-up in children with asthma.