It is well-known that boys are more likely to have asthma than girls in young children under the age of 12. And it also well-known that in adults, it is women who are more likely to have adult-onset asthma than men. But experts haven’t really understood why this would be so. Now, a new study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine sheds some light on this issue.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston looked at airway responsiveness in 1,041 asthmatic children over a nine-year period and found that the transition of greatest risk changed from boys to girls around the time of puberty, at age 11 or 12. Because of this, one theory is that the change may have something to do with levels of female hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone.

This could be important information for healthcare professionals in deciding levels of asthma treatment. For instance, boys might start to be stepped down to lower levels of treatment once they reach puberty, while girls might be stepped up. Boys might even outgrow asthma over time.

However, it’s important to note that no specific hormonal measurements were taken in relation to this study, so further research is needed to explore that angle. Still, the study is fascinating and underscores the progressive nature of asthma research today.

Learn More About Asthma Risk:

• What Causes Asthma?
• Is Asthma More Prevalent in Certain Ethnic / Racial Groups?
• Is Asthma Inherited?