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Risk of asthma in adult twins with type 2 diabetes and increased body mass index
Author(s) -
Thomsen S. F.,
Duffy D. L.,
Kyvik K. O.,
Skytthe A.,
Backer V.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02504.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , body mass index , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
To cite this article: Thomsen SF, Duffy DL, Kyvik KO, Skytthe A, Backer V. Risk of asthma in adult twins with type 2 diabetes and increased body mass index. Allergy 2011; 66 : 562–568. Abstract Aim: To examine the relationship between asthma, type 2 diabetes and increased body mass index (BMI) in adult twins. Methods: We performed record linkage between questionnaire‐defined asthma and BMI, and hospital discharge diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in 34 782 Danish twins, 20–71 years of age. Results: The risk of asthma was increased in subjects with type 2 diabetes relative to nondiabetic subjects both in men (13.5% vs 7.5%), P = 0.001 and in women (16.6% vs 9.6%), P = 0.001. The result remained significant after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, marital status and zygosity, men: OR = 1.70 (1.07–2.70), P = 0.026; women: OR = 1.88 (1.24–2.85), P = 0.003. In this analysis, BMI remained a highly significant predictor for asthma independently of diabetes status in women, P < 0.000 but not in men, P = 0.336. Significant positive genetic correlations were found between asthma and type 2 diabetes, 0.20 (0.01–0.40), P = 0.047; between asthma and BMI in women, 0.15 (0.07–0.22), P < 0.000; and between BMI and type 2 diabetes, 0.40 (0.29–0.43), P < 0.000. Conclusions: Asthma, type 2 diabetes and increased BMI are strongly associated in adults, particularly in women. These results suggest a common aetiology for asthma and metabolic syndrome.