@article {Frank:March 2007:1027-3719:338, author = "Frank, P.I.", author = "Hazell, M.L.", author = "Morris, J.A.", author = "Linehan, M.F.", author = "Frank, T.L.", title = "A longitudinal study of changes in respiratory status in young adults, 19932001", journal = "The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease", volume = "11", year = "March 2007", abstract = "SETTING: There is little information regarding the prognosis of respiratory symptoms in early adulthood or the effects of potential risk factors.
OBJECTIVE: To observe changing respiratory morbidity in a group of young adults over a period of 6-8 years.DESIGN: Subjects responding to three or more consecutive postal respiratory surveys carried out between 1993 and 2001 were included in the study. In addition to asthma (defined by a validated scoring system), two symptoms were examined: wheeze and being woken by cough. Five outcomes were defined: persistent, remission, new onset, never and intermittent.RESULTS: Of 2693 subjects who responded to at least one survey, about one third were eligible for inclusion: 10.2% reported wheeze at each survey (persistent) and 3.6% had persistent asthma. Persistent wheeze was seen in almost half (46.7%) of those reporting the symptom at their first survey. The corresponding figure for asthma was 32%. New onset wheeze was found in 16.2% of subjects without wheeze at baseline (asthma 9.7%). Smoking was significantly associated with new onset wheeze (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.30-3.00) and asthma (OR 2.14, 95%CI 1.26-3.50), but not with persistent symptoms.CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of policies to reduce smoking prevalence in young adults, and will help in the planning of future health care.", pages = "338-343(6)", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2007/00000011/00000003/art00020" }