Risk of irritable bowel syndrome among asthma patients.
BACKGROUND
An association between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and bronchial hyper-responsiveness has been suggested. Only a few studies have specifically studied the association between IBS and asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence rate of IBS among asthma patients and to compare it with the general population. We also examined the association between use of asthma drugs, specifically corticosteroids, and IBS.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study using the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) in the UK. The cohort comprised a random sample of 50,000 asthma patients aged 10-79 years and a similar number of sex- and age-matched individuals free of asthma and identified from the source population. A nested case-control analysis was performed within the asthma cohort to examine the association between asthma drugs and IBS.


RESULTS
The incidence rate of IBS in the asthma cohort was 2.5 per 1000 persons-years and 2.0 in the general population. The relative risk (RR) was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.5). A medical history of neurotic and psychologic disorders, pain-related diseases and gastroenteritis were all associated with the occurrence of IBS. In the asthma cohort, current users of oral steroids presented a RR of 0.5 (95% CI 0.2-1.2) for developing IBS. The risk estimate was similar in short- and long-term users of steroids.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a slightly increased risk of IBS in asthma patients compared to the general population and that the risk of IBS was reduced by use of oral steroids in asthma patients. Additional studies in the general population are necessary in order to confirm whether use of corticosteroids irrespective of asthma has a protective effect on the risk of IBS.
Huerta
Consuelo
C
Centro Español de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica (CEIFE), Madrid, Spain. chuerta@ceife.es
García Rodríguez
Luis Alberto
LA
Wallander
Mary-Ann
MA
Johansson
Saga
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents