Hormone replacement therapy may promote asthma in mature women

Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal women appears to contribute to an increased risk of developing asthma, a study has found.

The nested case-control study used data from the Danish registers between 1995 and 2018. Researchers defined an asthma diagnosis as two redeemed prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids within 2 years. Meanwhile, HRT use was identified among those who had redeemed prescriptions of female sex hormones within 6 months.

In total, 34,533 women with asthma and 345,116 controls without the condition were included in the analysis. The participants were between 40 and 65 years of age.

Multivariable conditional logistic regression models showed that active HRT conferred a 63-percent higher risk of new-onset asthma incidence compared with nonuse (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.55–1.71; p<0.001). The analysis was adjusted for age, household income, and educational level.

Furthermore, among women with asthma, termination of HRT was associated with greater likelihood to subsequently discontinue their asthma treatment (HR, 2.12, 95 percent CI, 1.94–2.33; p<0.001).

In light of the findings, the researchers underscored the need for clinicians prescribing and women receiving HRT to be aware that new airway symptoms can develop, and discontinuation of therapy should be considered.