Exogenous female sex steroid hormones and risk of asthma and asthma-like symptoms: a cross sectional study of the general population
P Langea b, J Parnera c, E Prescotta d, C Suppli Ulrikb, J Vestbob
a Copenhagen City
Heart Study, Bispebjerg University Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV,
Denmark, b Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre
University Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark, c Clinical
Research Unit, Hvidovre University Hospital, d Institute
of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, Denmark
Correspondence to: Dr P Lange peter.lange{at}hh.hosp.dk
Received 23 October 2000; Returned to authors 14 February 2001; Revised version received 9 April 2001; Accepted for publication 8 May 2001
BACKGROUND
Recent
evidence suggests a role for hormonal factors in the aetiology of asthma.
METHODSData from a
large study of women selected from the general population were used to
relate treatment with oral hormonal contraceptives (OCP) and
postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to the following
asthma indicators: self-reported asthma, wheezing, cough at exertion,
and use of medication for asthma. The study sample comprised 1536 premenopausal and 3016 postmenopausal women who participated in the
third round of the Copenhagen City Heart Study in 1991-4. A total of
377 women were taking OCP (24.5% of premenopausal women) and 458 were
on HRT (15.2% of postmenopausal women).
RESULTSIn
premenopausal women 4.8% reported having asthma. The prevalence of
self-reported asthma, wheeze, use of asthma medication, and cough at
exertion was not significantly related to use of OCP. In postmenopausal
women the prevalence of self-reported asthma was 6.2%. A weak but
consistent association was observed between HRT and self-reported
asthma (OR 1.42 (95% CI 0.95 to 2.12)), wheeze (OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.64)), cough at exertion (OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.77)), and use
of asthma medication (OR 1.45 (95% CI 0.97 to 2.18)).
CONCLUSIONSIn this
study of the general population no relationship was found between the
use of OCP and asthma. Although an association was observed between HRT
and asthma and asthma-like symptoms, this was relatively weak and it is
concluded that there is no necessity to change present prescription practice.
Keywords: asthma; hormone replacement therapy; oral contraceptives; female sex steroid hormones
© 2001 by Thorax
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