RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Recent research using serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has evidenced existence of low grade systemic inflammation in asthmatics whose correlation with various clinical indices is not fully studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between systemic inflammation and various clinical and treatment characteristics of asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty asthmatics (22 steroid inhaling and 18 steroid naïve) and 40 healthy subjects matched for age and sex were examined cross-sectionally. Along with clinical assessment, serum hs-CRP levels were measured for all subjects using latex enhanced immunoturbidometry method. RESULTS: Serum hs CRP levels were significantly higher in steroid naïve asthmatics when compared to normal subjects (0.93 ± 1.18 vs 0.24 ± 0.31 mg/dL, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.001). This association persisted after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and socioeconomic status (adjusted odds ratio 10.47; 95% CI 1.88-58.3; P < 0.01). Steroid inhaling asthmatics had serum hs-CRP levels comparable with control group (0.17 ± 0.18 vs 0.24 ± 0.31 mg/dL respectively, P > 0.05). Among the clinical and treatment related variables, duration of inhaled steroids usage alone correlated significantly with serum hs-CRP levels (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.449, P < 0.05), which was independent of age, BMI, duration of illness, and frequency of emergency visits. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the existence of low grade systemic inflammation in asthma which is effectively controlled by inhaled steroids. Such an effect of inhaled steroids appears to be more pronounced in recent users than that of long-term users, possibly due to lower adherence rate among the latter.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Proinflammatory role of serum cholesterol in asthma has been recently explored with contradicting results. Clarity on the link between serum cholesterol and asthma may lead to new evolutions in planning management strategies. The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between the serum cholesterol, asthma and its characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 asthmatics and 40 normal subjects were examined cross-sectionally and their serum fasting cholesterol and serum high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured along with other baseline investigations. All subjects were non-smokers. RESULTS: Serum total cholesterol (mean ± SD) among asthmatics was 176.45 ± 30.77 mgs/dL as compared to 163.33 ± 26.38 mgs/dL among normal subjects (P < 0.05). This higher serum cholesterol level was found to be associated with asthma independent of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), socio-economic status and serum hsCRP levels. However, the association was only modest (adjusted odds ratio 1.033; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.008-1.059). There was no association between the serum cholesterol and asthma characteristics such as duration of illness, intake of inhaled steroids and frequency of emergency department visits. Other risk factors identified were poor ventilation (adjusted odds ratio 9.27; 95%CI 1.83-46.99) and overcrowding (adjusted odds ratio 41.9; 95% CI 3.15-557.46) at home. CONCLUSION: Our study found a modest but significant association between higher levels of serum cholesterol and asthma, which is independent of age, gender, BMI, socio-economic status and serum hsCRP. Future research is required in a larger population to substantiate above association and its clinical implications. Poor ventilation and overcrowding at home are risk factors for asthma possibly facilitating increased exposure to indoor allergens.
