Post-traumatic stress disorder and asthma risk: A nationwide longitudinal study

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interferes with the immunological system and is correlated with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and chronic pain conditions. However, the association between PTSD and asthma remains unknown. Methods: A total of 5518 patients with PTSD and 22,072 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled between 2001 and 2009 and followed until the end of 2011. Individuals who developed asthma during the follow-up period were identified. Results: During the follow-up period, the patients with PTSD had an increased risk of asthma (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.27), particularly those belonging to the youngest age group (HR = 4.01). The findings were consistent in subsequent sensitivity analyses after the exclusion of the first year of surveillance or allergic disorders. Discussion: This study showed a significant link between PTSD and asthma after adjusting for demographic data and related comorbidities. The risk of developing asthma in patients with PTSD was consistently higher than that in the controls during the study period. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this association between PTSD and asthma.