%0 Journal Article %A M Turrin %A C Contin %A I S Dalla Rosa %A M Bonato %A E Bazzan %A M Romagnoli %A M G. Cosio %A M Saetta %A S Baraldo %T Clinical features and risk factors of intermediate-onset asthma. %D 2022 %R 10.1183/13993003.congress-2022.3012 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 3012 %V 60 %N suppl 66 %X Background: Bronchial asthma can present with different features depending on the age of onset. While early and late onset asthma are well documented, intermediate-onset asthma is much less studied.Aim: To investigate the impact of clinical characteristics and risk factors on asthma control in persistent asthma with a focus on intermediate-onset asthma.Methods: In a cohort of 250 patients with persistent asthma (age: 54±16yrs) 3 clusters were defined: EA(early-onset asthma ≤12yr);IA (intermediate-onset asthma 12-40yr);LA (late-onset asthma >40yr). Medical history, smoking and occupational exposure, lung function, blood cell counts, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and level of asthma control were recorded.Results: Among 250 patients 78(31%) had EA, 75(30%) IA and 98(39%) LA. Occupational exposure was significatively higher in IA than in EA and LA (62vs20vs39%;p=0.002) while smoking (39vs32vs37%), outdoor pollution (42vs44vs47%) and obesity (20vs17vs21%) were similar among groups. IA had more blood eosinophils than LA (4.5±3.5vs2.7±1.9%;p=0.005) and more neutrophils than EA (56±11vs 50±9%;p=0.04). In IA poor asthma control (ACT<20) was associated to occupational exposure (59vs25%;p=0.0004), smoking (66vs13%;p<0.0001) and obesity (53vs25%;p=0.003). Occupationally 82% were exposed to chemical dusts/vapour, 23% to metals, 17% to organic dusts, 13% to textiles with no gender differences. Poor symptom control was more frequent in subjects exposed to chemicals than in others (77%vs 50%;p=0.003).Conclusions: Intermediate-onset asthma is a different phenotype in which obesity, occupational exposure, especially to chemical dusts, and smoke could have an important influence on disease mechanisms and symptom control.FootnotesCite this article as Eur Respir J 2022; 60: Suppl. 66, 3012.This article was presented at the 2022 ERS International Congress, in session “-”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). %U