Different phenotypes of asthma in young children

Department of Epidemiology

Project description

Epidemiologic studies have suggested that there are several different asthma phenotypes, reflecting a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by recurrent airway obstruction.

Three of these phenotypes are transient early wheezing (wheezing up to age 3 but not after), nonatopic wheezing of the toddler and early school years, and IgE-mediated wheezing/asthma.

The aim of the project is to investigate whether different risk factors underlie different phenotypes of asthma at early age. Prospective data from birth up to eight years of life collected in a large Dutch birth cohort are available to investigate the association between risk factors and different phenotypes of asthma.

References:

1. Martinez FD, Godfrey S. Wheezing disorders in the preschool child. London: Martin Dunitz, Taylor & Francis Group; 2003.
2. Martinez FD. Development of wheezing disorders and asthma in preschool children. Pediatrics 2002; 109(2 Suppl):362-7.