Childhood allergic rhinitis predicts asthma incidence and persistence to middle age: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: The association between allergic rhinitis and asthma is well documented, but the temporal sequence of this association has not been closely examined. Objective: We sought to assess the associations between childhood allergic rhinitis and (1) asthma incidence from preadolescence to middle age and (2) asthma persistence to middle age. Methods: Data were gathered from the 1968, 1974, and 2004 surveys of the Tasmanian Asthma Study. Cox regression was used to examine the association between childhood allergic rhinitis and asthma incidence in preadolescence, adolescence, and adult life. Binomial regression was used to examine the association between childhood allergic rhinitis and asth..