Adult‐Onset Compared to Childhood‐Onset Asthma: Multifaceted Symptoms, Comorbidity, and Healthcare Burden

TL;DR

Adult-onset asthma is more complex than childhood-onset asthma, with more symptoms, comorbidities, and healthcare use.

Contribution

The study reveals distinct symptom and comorbidity profiles between childhood and adult-onset asthma.

Findings

Adult-onset asthma shows more multi-symptom profiles like productive cough and sputum production.

Childhood-onset asthma is more associated with allergy-related comorbidities.

Adult-onset asthma has higher disease burden with more medication use and exacerbations.

Abstract

In this study, we compared symptoms, comorbidities, and healthcare burden between childhood‐onset asthma (< 18 years) and early adult‐onset (18–39 years) and late adult‐onset asthma (≥ 40 years). Among 3546 participants with data on physician‐diagnosed asthma and onset age, 46.4% were defined as adult‐onset [864 (24.4%) had early adult‐onset asthma (18–39 years) and 782 (22.1%) had late adult‐onset asthma (≥ 40 years)], which, compared to childhood‐onset asthma, presented with more complex, multi‐symptom profiles, including productive cough, sputum production, but less wheezing. Allergy‐related comorbidities were more common in childhood‐diagnosed asthma, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and chronic sinusitis were more common in adult‐onset asthma. Adult‐onset asthma also had a higher disease burden, with more frequent medication use and exacerbations. Adult‐onset asthma has an underlying complexity, contributing to a vicious cycle of worsening symptoms, increased medication use, and more comorbidities.

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