TY - JOUR

T1 - Hormone Replacement Therapy and Development of New Asthma

AU - Hansen, Erik Soeren Halvard

AU - Aasbjerg, Kristian

AU - Moeller, Amalie Lykkemark

AU - Gade, Elisabeth Juul

AU - Torp-Pedersen, Christian

AU - Backer, Vibeke

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American College of Chest Physicians

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed to millions of women worldwide. Previous studies have suggested that HRT has both protective and harmful effects in asthma. Research Question: Is HRT in menopause associated with new development of asthma? Study Design and Methods: We undertook a nested case-control study based on the Danish registers from June 1, 1995, through December 31, 2018. A diagnosis of asthma was defined as two redeemed prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids within 2 years. HRT was defined as two redeemed prescriptions of female sex hormones within 6 months. Data were analyzed using a conditional logistic regression model. Results: We included 34,533 women with asthma vs 345,116 women without asthma between 40 and 65 years of age. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, household income, and educational level, active HRT resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.55-1.71; P < .001) of new asthma development. Women with asthma who terminated HRT were likely to discontinue their asthma treatment subsequently (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.94-2.33; P < .001). Interpretation: HRT seems to play a role in the development of asthma in mature women. Clinicians prescribing HRT and women receiving HRT should be aware that new airway symptoms can develop, and discontinuation of HRT should be considered.

AB - Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed to millions of women worldwide. Previous studies have suggested that HRT has both protective and harmful effects in asthma. Research Question: Is HRT in menopause associated with new development of asthma? Study Design and Methods: We undertook a nested case-control study based on the Danish registers from June 1, 1995, through December 31, 2018. A diagnosis of asthma was defined as two redeemed prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids within 2 years. HRT was defined as two redeemed prescriptions of female sex hormones within 6 months. Data were analyzed using a conditional logistic regression model. Results: We included 34,533 women with asthma vs 345,116 women without asthma between 40 and 65 years of age. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, household income, and educational level, active HRT resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.55-1.71; P < .001) of new asthma development. Women with asthma who terminated HRT were likely to discontinue their asthma treatment subsequently (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.94-2.33; P < .001). Interpretation: HRT seems to play a role in the development of asthma in mature women. Clinicians prescribing HRT and women receiving HRT should be aware that new airway symptoms can develop, and discontinuation of HRT should be considered.

KW - asthma

KW - case-control study

KW - estrogen

KW - hormone replacement therapy

U2 - 10.1016/j.chest.2021.01.054

DO - 10.1016/j.chest.2021.01.054

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33775661

AN - SCOPUS:85108236845

VL - 160

SP - 45

EP - 52

JO - Chest

JF - Chest

SN - 0012-3692

IS - 1

ER -