Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Increased Asthma Risk, Regardless of Genetic Susceptibility: Longitudinal Study Finds
China: A recent longitudinal study published in BMC Public Health has shed light on a significant association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the risk of developing asthma, independent of an individual’s genetic predisposition.
The comprehensive study leveraging UK Biobank data has revealed that individuals with type 2 diabetes face a 16% higher risk of developing asthma, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.16. This increased risk was consistently observed across individuals with high and low genetic susceptibility. The research, which followed 388,775 participants over a median period of 13.6 years, demonstrated that the association between T2D and asthma remained significant even after adjusting for variables such as age, sex, smoking status, and genetic predisposition.
The researchers note that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and asthma is on the rise, but limited evidence exists regarding the link between these conditions, particularly when considering genetic predispositions. To address this gap, Bo Zhang, Department of Endocrinology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Hepingli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, and colleagues conducted an observational analysis to investigate the association between T2D and asthma. This study incorporated genetic susceptibility to asthma, assessed using a polygenic risk score (PRS), to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship.
For this purpose, the researchers utilized data from the UK Biobank longitudinal cohort, which included 388,775 participants. They derived a polygenic risk score (PRS) for asthma based on genome-wide association studies. The team used Cox regression models to assess the relationship between T2D and asthma while incorporating the asthma PRS into their analysis.
The study led to the following findings:
- Over a median follow-up period of 13.62 years, 10,211 cases of asthma were recorded.
- After adjusting for age, sex, current smoking status, and other confounding factors, type 2 diabetes was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of developing asthma (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.16).
- This association persisted even after additional adjustments were made for genetic susceptibility to asthma.
- The increased risk of developing asthma associated with T2D was observed in individuals with both high and low genetic risk profiles.
"Our study highlights a significant association between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of asthma, irrespective of genetic susceptibility. These findings have important implications for public health strategies and clinical management, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance for asthma symptoms in individuals with or at risk of T2D," the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Chen, F., Yang, Y., Yu, L. et al. The association between type 2 diabetes and asthma incidence: a longitudinal analysis considering genetic susceptibility. BMC Public Health 25, 166 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21266-2
