The natural history of childhood asthma

Abstract

Confusion still exists as to the factors which affect the long term prognosis of childhood asthma. In order to resolve these problems, a long term follow up of asthmatic children under 12 yr of age attending hospital was started in 1941 and continued to 1947, by which time only 208 (50%) of the original 417 were still attending hospital. These children were subsequently followed up until 1969. The age and sex distribution in the group practice at the beginning (mean figures for 1948 and 1952) and at the end of the study (1972), and of the population of England and Wales (Registrar General's figures 1951 and 1971) were similar.