Predicting the Long-Term Course of Asthma in Wheezing Infants Is Still a Challenge

Table 1

Predictive parameters of asthma persistence at follow-up end point (univariate analysis).

	Persistent	Remission	P value
Atopic dermatitis	85 (70.3%)	39 (36.8%)	<0.001
Sensitization to ≥2 food allergens	15 (12.4%)	4 (3.7%)	0.02
Sensitization to ≥2 airborne allergens	40 (33.1%)	7 (6.6%)	<0.001
Allergen polysensitization	47 (38.8%)	12 (11.3%)	<0.001
Total serum IgE >45 IU/mL	59 (48.8%)	30 (28.3%)	0.002
Blood eosinophil count ≥470/mm^3	39 (32.2%)	15 (14.2%)	0.001
Mother with asthma	27 (22.5%)	20 (19.1%)	0.52
Father with asthma	28 (23.3%)	19 (18.6%)	0.33
Initial severity	62 (51.2%)	34 (32.1%)	0.004

Allergen sensitization: presence of allergen-specific IgE ≥0.35 kU/L to at least one of the common aeroallergens (dust mites, cat or dog dander, seed plant, or birch pollen) or one of the common food allergens (cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soybean, and fish). Allergen sensitization was single or multiple (≥2 specific food allergen-positive IgE or ≥2 specific airborne allergen-positive IgE). Allergen polysensitization was defined as ≥2 allergen-specific IgE, regardless of allergen class. Initial severity: two previous hospital admissions due to exacerbation. Hypereosinophilia: absolute eosinophil count of ≥470/ mm³.