Diabetes Increases Asthma Prevalence

A new study reveals that the prevalence of asthma is significantly higher in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), independent of other comorbid conditions. California researchers reviewed data from 293,124 patients with DM and 552,623 patients with hypertension but no DM (control group). Using multivariate analysis, researchers found that DM remained independently associated with asthma, which was present in 4.5 percent of patients with DM vs 2.9 percent of controls. Researchers suggest an asthma diagnosis in patients with DM and respiratory symptoms should be considered.







CHEST 2006 abstract briefs



Contact: Jennifer Stawarz


American College of Chest Physicians