Fig. 2

Forest plot summarizing the associations between risk factors and severe adult-onset asthma by using a question-based definition of severe asthma (Sev-Q). Adjusted ORs and 95% CIs of severe adult-onset asthma are presented for sex, smoking status, the number of siblings, the presence of patient-reported NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD), and other chronic diseases. Models were adjusted for all these risk factors and age, education, training, severe childhood infection(s)¹ and the presence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. In this multivariable model, the number of severe asthmatic patients was 79, and the number of non-severe asthmatic patients was 1094. ¹pneumonia before or during school age and/or hospitalization due to infection at ≤ 3 years of age. Education level = baccalaureate/secondary versus primary school; professional training = completed professional college/university/courses/completed trade school versus no. OR = odds ratio. CI = confidence interval. Severe asthma (Sev-Q) was defined as self-reported severe asthma and asthma symptoms causing much harm and regular impairment and ≥ 1 oral corticosteroid course/year or regular oral corticosteroids and/or waking up in the night due to asthma symptoms/wheezing ≥ a few times/month