Commentary: Does the presence of asthma increase the incidence of coronary heart disease?

Abstract

In summary, because asthma is now so common even a small increase in the relative incidence of CHD associated with a diagnosis of asthma would have a significant adverse public health impact. It is therefore important that we understand fully the relationship between asthma, FEV1, and CHD and to do this we need further cohort studies. In order to provide definitive answers these cohorts will require include information on serial measurements of lung function and objective markers of asthma, as well as early life exposures affecting growth and more traditional adult risk factors for CHD. © International Epidemiological Association 2004; all rights reserved.