09 Oct Menopause Increases Asthma Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Kai Triebner, MSc
Department of Clinical Science
University of Bergen
Bergen, Norway
Medical Research: What is the background for this study?
Response: During the last decades female life expectancy has risen far beyond 50
years worldwide. This means that the quality of life after menopause is
highly relevant today. Menopause implies profound hormonal and metabolic
changes leading to higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Although researchers are increasingly aware that hormonal status and
inflammation may also deteriorate respiratory health, our knowledge is
very scarce. So far, no prospective study had investigated whether
menopause increases the risk of asthma in the general population.
Medical Research:? What are the main findings?
Response: We studied the association between menopausal status and newly diagnosed asthma, after the age of 44. We found that the odds of getting asthma
were more than twice as high for women going through the menopausal
transition or after menopause, compared to non-menopausal women. The
risk was particularly high for overweight and obese women. These results
were not due to general aging and were independent of smoking and
geographical location.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Response: Women and health care providers should be aware of symptoms of asthma
around the age of menopause. Policy makers should consider the burden
and costs of menopausal asthma.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Further research should focus on life style intervention in order to
prevent or improve menopausal asthma.
Citation:
Menopause as a predictor of new-onset asthma: A longitudinal Northern European population study
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.019
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Kai Triebner, MSc (2015). Menopause Increases Asthma Risk
Last Updated on October 9, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD