Clinical Epidemiology (Jan 2023)

Increased Risk of Anemia in Patients with Asthma

  • Rhew K,
  • Choi J,
  • Kim K,
  • Choi KH,
  • Lee SH,
  • Park HW

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 31 – 38

Abstract

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Kiyon Rhew,1 Jisu Choi,1 Kyungim Kim,2,3 Kyung Hee Choi,4 So-Hee Lee,5 Heung-Woo Park6 1College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea; 3College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea; 4College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea; 5Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Kiyon Rhew; Heung-Woo Park, Tel +82 2 940 4519 ; +82 2 742 3291, Fax +82-2-940-4159 ; +82 2 2072 0699, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Asthma can cause a systemic inflammatory response, and anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is known to be caused by other disorders with a chronic inflammatory state. However, it is unclear whether the incidence of anemia is increased in patients with asthma. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of anemia in patients with asthma and healthy adults.Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients newly diagnosed with asthma at Seoul National University Hospital from 2010 to 2017. Patients with comorbidities before the first visit (index date) that may increase anemia risk were excluded. Cox regression models adjusting for patient age, sex, and obesity were used to compare anemia hazard ratios (HRs) between asthma patients (n=1354) and healthy adults (n=1731).Results: This study included 3085 patients. During 5-y follow-up, anemia occurred in 203 (15.0%) patients with asthma and 79 (4.6%) healthy adults. Compared with healthy adults, the HR for anemia after adjusting for age, sex, and obesity was 4.06 (95% CI: 2.70– 6.09) in patients with asthma. In patients aged 18– 64.9 y, the adjusted HR of anemia was 3.27 (95% CI: 2.12– 5.04) in patients with asthma, compared to healthy patients. In patients > 65 y, this adjusted HR was 5.56 (95% CI: 1.31– 23.67).Conclusion: The risk of anemia was increased in patients with asthma after adjusting for sex, age, and obesity and excluding comorbidities that can cause anemia. These results suggest the need for regular monitoring for anemia in patients with asthma.Keywords: anemia, asthma, inflammation, anemia of chronic disease

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