[The age of onset of adult-onset asthma is increasing in Japanese women].

Our data indicate that, during a recent 9-year period, the age of onset of adult-onset asthma appears to be increasing in females, most likely because the numbers of female asthmatics who smoke, have a high total serum IgE level (IgE >or=300 IU/ml), have a high mite-specific IgE antibody score (RAST score >or=2), and have complications from or a past history of allergic rhinitis have declined.