The associations between asthma and common comorbidities: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization study

Xuezhao Wang; Yuchen Huang; Xiaochen Li; Yuanzhou He; Xiansheng Liu

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1251827

The associations between asthma and common comorbidities: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization study

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Nov 15:10:1251827. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1251827. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xuezhao Wang^{1

2}, Yuchen Huang^{1

2}, Xiaochen Li^{1

2}, Yuanzhou He^{1

2}, Xiansheng Liu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
² Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease and is often associated with multiple comorbidities. The causal relationship between asthma and these comorbidities is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between genetically predicted asthma and common comorbidities.

Methods: After searching PubMed and GWAS summary statistics, we identified 26 comorbidities of asthma. The causal relationship between asthma and comorbidities was assessed in two independent GWASs by bidirectional Mendelian randomization, followed by validation of the results using a multivariate Mendelian randomization analysis and several sensitivity analyses.

Results: In the bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis, chronic sinusitis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, p = 1.40 × 10^-5], atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.36, p = 9.37 × 10^-21), allergic conjunctivitis (OR = 2.07, p = 4.32 × 10^-6), and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.53, p = 5.20 × 10^-6) were significantly associated with increased asthma risk. Hyperthyroidism (OR = 1.12, p = 0.04) had a potential increased risk for asthma. For the reverse direction, asthma showed significant associations with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 1.24, p = 2.25 × 10^-9), chronic sinusitis (OR = 1.61, p = 5.25 × 10^-21), atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.11, p = 1.24 × 10^-24), allergic conjunctivitis (OR = 1.65, p = 6.66 × 10^-35), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.90, p = 2.38 × 10^-57), and a potential higher risk of allergic urticaria (OR = 1.25, p = 0.003).

Conclusion: This study suggested a significant bidirectional association of chronic sinusitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and allergic rhinitis with asthma. In addition, hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk of asthma and asthma increased the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allergic urticaria.

Keywords: Mendelian randomization; allergic diseases; asthma; comorbidities; genome-wide association study.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81973987) and grants from the Key Program of Tongji Hospital (Grant No. 2022A10 to XCL).