Abstract
Among respiratory diseases, asthma is one of the most burdensome disorder worldwide. Growing evidence disclose gut dysbiosis may contribute to asthma via the gut-lung axis. Constipation can lead to alteration of the gut microflora. The clinical impact of constipation on asthma has not been researched. Therefore, we aim to assess the risk of asthma in constipated patients by a nationwide population-based cohort study. We analysed 86860 constipated patients and 86860 individuals without constipation between 1999 and 2013 from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Analysis of propensity score was utilised to match age, gender, comorbidities and medications at a ratio of 1:1. Besides, multiple Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the adjusted hazard ratio of asthma. Furthermore, sensitivity tests and stratified analysis were conducted. The incidence of asthma was 10.4 per 1000 person-years in the constipation group, which was higher than the rate of 5.7 per 1000 person-years observed in the non-constipation group. After adjustment for age, gender, urbanisation, comorbidities and medications, constipated patients had a 1.81-fold greater risk of asthma compared with those without constipation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.74-1.88). In subgroup analyses, patients aged 20-39years had a 2.01-fold highest risk of asthma in the constipation cohort (aHR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.82-2.22). Besides, the severity of constipation is associated with an increased risk of asthma; the aHR was 1.92 (1.84-2.00), 2.07 (1.94-2.21) and 2.10 (1.96-2.25) for ≤ 30days, 31-120days and >120days of laxatives prescription within 1year after the index date, respectively (P<.001). Constipation relates to a significantly increased risk of asthma. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of asthma in constipated people. Further research is warranted to investigate the possible pathological mechanisms of this association.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.