Background: Both rhinovirus (RV) induced wheeze and allergic sensitization are associated with asthma development. However it is unknown whether these associations remain in early adolescence in high-risk children.

Aim: To investigate associations between preschool RV-induced wheeze, allergic sensitization and asthma development in early adolescence.

Method: Gene Expression in Wheezing and Asthmatic Children (GEWAC) is a cohort study where 156 children aged 6-48 months were included during an episode of acute wheeze and followed until age 10-14 years (n = 107). The study protocol included questionnaires, nasopharyngeal samples for viral detection at inclusion and allergen-specific IgE to food and aeroallergens at inclusion and at 7 years. Asthma diagnosis was based on symptoms, medication and spirometry performed at age 10-14 years. Associations were examined using logistic regression.

Results: At age 10-14 years (median age 10.8 years), 62.6 % (n = 67) had asthma. RV-induced wheeze (OR 2.4 (95 % CI = 1.02-5.6)) and sensitization at inclusion (OR 2.9 (95 % CI = 1.05-8.1)) were associated with asthma at age 10-14 years. Stronger associations were found in children with RV-induced wheeze and sensitization at inclusion (OR 8.3 (95 % CI = 1.03-67.1)) as well as for RV-induced wheeze and sensitization at age 7 (OR 12.8 (95% CI = 1.6-100.3)). RV-negative wheeze in non-sensitized children was associated with a decreased risk of asthma development (OR 0.4 (95 % CI = 0.18-0.98)).

Conclusion: These results add further evidence to the role of RV-induced preschool wheeze and allergic sensitization as important predictors of asthma development.