Consequences of long-term inflammation - The natural history of asthma

Childhood asthma often improves or remits, especially if mild; however, impaired lung function, increased airway responsiveness, a greater degree of atopy, and concurrent atopic disease all predispose to a poorer prognosis and persistence into adulthood. Exposure to environmental and personal tobacco smoke also contribute to a worse prognosis. Adults with asthma rarely experience full remission, but show increased rates of decline of lung function. The severity and duration of asthma, together with delay in initiating appropriate treatment, all contribute to adverse outcomes, with airway remodeling contributing to increasing and sometimes irreversible airflow obstruction