Endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones and asthma and wheeze in young women - 17/08/11
Los Angeles, Calif
Abstract |
Background |
Emerging evidence suggests that both endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones may influence the occurrence of asthma and wheeze among women.
Objective |
We investigated the associations between exogenous sex hormone (oral contraceptive [OC]) use and wheezing in young women with and without asthma history. To investigate the role of endogenous sex hormones, we examined the association between age at menarche and the development of asthma after puberty.
Methods |
We conducted a study among 905 women who had undergone menarche. Subjects were between 13 and 28 years of age and had participated in the Children’s Health Study.
Results |
In women without asthma, OC use was associated with higher risk of current wheeze (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.15-2.65). In contrast, OC use was associated with a markedly reduced prevalence of current wheeze in women with a history of asthma (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06-0.56; P value for interaction = .003). These associations showed significant trends with duration of OC use. Age at menarche was associated with new-onset asthma after puberty. Compared with women who had menarche after age 12 years, women with menarche before age 12 years had a 2.08-fold (95% CI, 1.05-4.12) higher risk of asthma after puberty.
Conclusion |
Both endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones affect asthma and wheeze occurrences in young women.
Clinical implications |
Because women have higher asthma risk after puberty, and OC use is common among young women, clinicians may inform women with asthma about the potential effects of OC on asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Oral contraceptives, sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, puberty, menarche, wheeze, asthma
Abbreviations used : AHR, BMI, CHS, HR, OC, OR, PEFR, SES
Plan
Supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (grants 5P01ES09581, 5P01ES011627, and 5P30 ES07048), the US Environmental Protection Agency (grants R826708-01 and RD83186101), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (grant 5R01HL61768), the California Air Resources Board (contract 94-331), and the Hastings Foundation. Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest. |
Vol 117 - N° 5
P. 1001-1007 - mai 2006 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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