Hormone replacement therapy, body mass index and asthma in perimenopausal women: a cross sectional survey. Issue 1 (21st October 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gómez Real, F; Svanes, C; Björnsson, E H; Franklin, K; Gislason, D; Gislason, T; Gulsvik, A; Janson, C; Jögi, R; Kiserud, T; Norbäck, D; Nyström, L; Torén, K; Wentzel-Larsen, T; Omenaas, E
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 61:Issue 1(2006)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2005-10-21
• Subjects: BMI, body mass index -- ECRHS, European Community Respiratory Health Survey -- HRT, hormone replacement therapy -- IR, insulin resistance -- RHINE, Respiratory Health in Northern Europe; asthma -- menopause -- hormone replacement therapy -- body mass index; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.2005.040881
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and obesity both appear to increase the risk of asthma. A study was undertaken to investigate the association of HRT with asthma and hay fever in a population of perimenopausal women, focusing on a possible interaction with body mass index (BMI). Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to population based samples in Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in 1999–2001, and 8588 women aged 25–54 years responded (77%). Pregnant women, women using oral contraceptives, and women <46 years were excluded. Analyses included 2206 women aged 46–54 years of which 884 were menopausal and 540 used HRT. Stratified analyses by BMI in tertiles were performed. Results: HRT was associated with an increased risk for asthma (OR 1.57 (95% CI 1.07 to 2.30)), wheeze (OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.10)), and hay fever (OR 1.48 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.90)). The associations with asthma and wheeze were significantly stronger among women with BMI in the lower tertile (asthma OR 2.41 (95% CI 1.21 to 4.77); wheeze OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.23 to 3.36)) than in heavier women (asthma: pinteraction = 0.030; wheeze: pinteraction = 0.042). Increasing BMI was associated with more asthma (OR 1.08 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.12) per kg/m 2 ). This effect was only found in women not taking HRT (OR 1.10 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.14) per kg/m 2 ); no such association was detected in HRT users (OR 1.00 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.08) per kg/m 2 ) (pinteraction = 0.046). Menopause was not significantly associated with asthma, wheeze, or hay fever. Conclusions: In perimenopausal women there is an interaction between HRT and BMI in the effects on asthma. Lean women who were HRT users had as high a risk for asthma as overweight women not taking HRT. It is suggested that HRT and overweight increase the risk of asthma through partly common pathways.