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Asthma as a risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease
Thomas R Talbot1, Tina V Hartert, Ed Mitchel
1Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, USA. tom.talbot@vanderbilt.edu
Asthma significantly increases the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, at least doubling it. This study highlights asthma as an independent risk factor for this serious infection.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- The association between asthma and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was previously unknown.
- Investigating this link is crucial for understanding disease burden and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if asthma is a risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease.
- To quantify the risk of IPD among individuals with asthma.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study was conducted using Tennessee Medicaid data (1995-2002).
- Included were individuals aged 2-49 with over a year of enrollment and residing in surveillance areas.
- Asthma and high-risk asthma were defined by diagnoses, medication use, and healthcare utilization.
Main Results:
- 114 (18.0%) of 635 IPD cases and 516 (8.1%) of 6350 controls had asthma.
- Asthma was associated with a 2.4-fold increased risk of IPD (95% CI, 1.9-3.1).
- Incidence rates per 10,000 persons were 4.2 (high-risk asthma), 2.3 (low-risk asthma), and 1.2 (no asthma).
Conclusions:
- Asthma is an independent risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease.
- Individuals with asthma face at least double the risk of IPD compared to those without asthma.
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