Severe asthma in childhood increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) according to an Australian study presented at the American Thoracic Society Conference in New Orleans.
Patients were followed regularly from age 7 to age 50 as part of the Melbourne Asthma Study. Severe childhood asthma increased risk of COPD by nearly 32 times compared to mild or no asthma. Mild asthma was not associated with an increased of COPD.
According to lead author Andrew Tai, MBBS, FRACP "there should be greater emphasis on the surveillance and treatment of children with asthma, therefore potentially preventing the development of adult obstructive lung disease." He concluded "early treatment to prevent airway remodeling in childhood may reduce the incidence of this long-term complication of childhood asthma."
