Proposal of a new classification of adult bronchial asthma--child onset asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma. Project Team for Research into Adult Bronchial Asthma in Japan

Abstract

The first nationwide research into adult bronchial asthma in Japan proposed a new classification of adult asthma. Adult asthma was categorized into child onset asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma. The frequency of child onset asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma in adult asthma was 11.2%, 77.3% and 3.7%, respectively. The frequency of child onset asthma decreased markedly in the older age group. On the other hand, the frequency of adult onset asthma increased, and reached more than 90%, in the older age group. The frequency of the following factors: atopic asthma, complications with other atopic diseases, mild asthma, male patients, experience of mechanical ventilation, visits to night clinics and oxygen therapy on acute attack, was significantly higher in the child onset asthma group than in the adult onset asthma group. The frequency of infectious type, aspirin intolerance, steroid dependent asthma, severe asthma and regular medication was significantly higher in the adult onset asthma group. Adult relapse asthma seemed to fall between these two groups. Based on the above observations, we proposed a new classification of adult asthma which includes child onset asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma.