Chest
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Childhood asthma is a prevalent condition with potential impacts on adult life. ⋯ Our 60-year follow-up study of adults with a history of severe childhood asthma revealed that nine of 10 participants still had current asthma. Persistent asthma was associated with lower lung function and higher levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers compared with asthma remission.
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Small airways obstruction (SAO) is common in general populations. It has been associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and progression to COPD over time. Whether SAO predicts mortality is largely unknown. ⋯ Individuals with SAO have an increased risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Further studies are needed to determine whether SAO causes mortality or is a marker of underlying disease.