Asthma, beta-agonists, and development of congestive heart failure: results of the ABCHF study.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrated an association between asthma and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM), raising concerns regarding chronic beta-agonist inhaler use. The purpose of this investigation was to replicate that association.


RESULTS
We identified 67 patients with IDCM and 130 controls with predominately ischemic cardiomyopathy. Patients were administered a structured, detailed phone survey by blinded interviewers, and had chart abstractions performed. We had 80% power to detect an odds ratio (OR) > or = 2.6 for the relation of asthma and IDCM. A history of asthma was present in 19.4% v 12.3% for cases and controls respectively, OR, 1.72, (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72, 4.09), P = .18. The duration of asthma was higher in cases: 32.3 (19.7) years v 13.8 (15.0) years (P = 0.007). With adjustment for confounders, multivariate analyses revealed no significant relations between asthma or beta-agonist use and the later development of IDCM.


CONCLUSIONS
It is unlikely that previously occurring asthma or beta-agonist use has a strong relationship to the development of IDCM; however, IDCM and atopic diseases may cluster in families, warranting further work into the genetic relations between atopy and IDCM.
Sengstock
David M
DM
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Obeidat
Omar
O
Pasnoori
Venkat
V
Mehra
Pradeep
P
Sandberg
Keisha R
KR
McCullough
Peter A
PA
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004418:Dyspnea, Paroxysmal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors