Bronchial asthma and risk of 4 specific cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies

Abstract

Objective: It has been shown that asthma is significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Under this background, this study aimed to systematically classify and summarize the epidemiological evidence of asthma and the risk of 4 specific cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM).

Materials and methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched from inception to December 1st, 2021 in order to identify relevant studies. The random-model was used to assess the pooled results. All pooled results were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Finally, a total of 18 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. Compared with non-asthmatic group, patients with asthma had significantly increased risks of subsequent cardiovascular heart disease (CHD, RR 1.33; 1.19-1.50, I2=80.3%; p<0.001), and CVM (RR 1.35; 1.15-1.59, I2=0%; p<0.001). Similarly, the risks of heart failure (HF, RR 2.10; 1.98-2.22, I2=17.4%; p<0.001) and myocardial infraction (MI, RR 1.39; 1.16-1.66, I2=59.3%; p<0.001) were higher in the asthmatic population. However, the higher risk of atrial fibrillation (RR 1.70; 1.45-2.00, I2=0%; p<0.001) was observed only in the active asthmatic population.

Conclusions: In general, asthma is associated with subsequent increased risks of CHD, MI, AF, HF, and CVM. In addition, among patients with asthma, females have a higher risk of CHD than males, while active asthmatic patients have a higher risk of CVM than non-active asthmatic patients.