Asthma and incident cardiovascular disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Issue 8 (1st August 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schanen, J G; Iribarren, C; Shahar, E; Punjabi, N M; Rich, S S; Sorlie, P D; Folsom, A R
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 60:Issue 8(2005)
• Page Start: 633
• Page End: 638
• Publication Date: 2005-08-01
• Subjects: CHD, coronary heart disease -- CVD, cardiovascular disease -- FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second -- FVC, forced vital capacity -- HR, hazards ratio -- RR, risk ratio -- SMR, standardised mortality ratio; asthma -- coronary heart disease -- stroke; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.2004.026484
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Background: A possible association between asthma and cardiovascular disease has been described in several exploratory studies. Methods: The association of self-reported, doctor diagnosed asthma and incident cardiovascular disease was examined in a biracial cohort of 45–64 year old adults (N = 13501) followed over 14 years. Results: Compared with never having asthma, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of stroke (n = 438) was 1.50 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.15) for a baseline report of ever having asthma (prevalence 5.2%) and 1.55 (95% CI 0.95 to 2.52) for current asthma (prevalence 2.7%). The relative risk of stroke was 1.43 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.98) using a time dependent analysis incorporating follow up reports of asthma. Participants reporting wheeze attacks with shortness of breath also had greater risk for stroke (HR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.06) than participants without these symptoms. The multivariate adjusted relative risk of coronary heart disease (n = 1349) was 0.87 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.14) for ever having asthma, 0.69 (95% CI 0.46 to 1.05) for current asthma at baseline, and 0.88 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.11) using the time dependent analysis. Conclusions: Asthma may be an independent risk factor for incident stroke but not coronary heart disease in middle aged adults. This finding warrants replication and may motivate a search for possible mechanisms that link asthma and stroke.