Asthma: The Role of Low High-Density-Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract

Background: Several studies have examined the relationship of asthma with serum dyslipidemia and reported positive, negative or no association. Most studies were limited by their cross-sectional design and the wide age range of the participants. In a cohort of children in Cyprus, we explored the association of asthma with serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at age 16-18 years (follow-up) independently of and in relation to HDL-C at age 11-12 years (baseline). Methods: In a case-control design, we recruited active asthmatics (AA; n = 68), current wheezers only (CWO; n = 123) and non-asthmatic controls (n = 660). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of asthma with follow-up serum HDL-C and the role of baseline HDL-C. Results: At follow-up, mean HDL-C levels in AA and CWO patients were significantly lower than in the controls (47.9 and 49.7 vs. 53.4 mg/dl; p = 0.001 and p = 0.011). We observed significant associations of AA patients with low HDL-C (<15th percentile; OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.16-4.47) that remained significant after further adjustment for baseline HDL-C (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.06-4.14). Stratification by baseline HDL-C indicated that the association was significant only in those with high baseline HDL-C (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.03-5.20). Stratification by IgE sensitization showed that the association was pronounced only in subjects who were sensitized (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.12-9.88). Conclusions: Adolescent asthma is associated with low serum HDL-C independent of previous HDL-C levels in childhood. The association appears pronounced in those with a drop in HDL-C levels between childhood and adolescence and in those who have IgE sensitization. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Blood lipid levels associate with childhood asthma, airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and aeroallergen sensitization

“…9 In contrast, a study in adults found that asthmatic patients had lower levels of both total cholesterol and triglycerides, 10 and a recent study found that adolescents with asthma and recurrent wheeze had lower HDL-C levels. 29 However, the asthma diagnosis in all of these previous studies is based on unspecific questionnaires filled out by the patient or the patient's parents, and none of them include lung function data.…”

“…It has previously been shown that asthmatic patients have a decrease in HDL-C levels from childhood to adolescence, 29 which could indicate that the distinct lipid profile acts as a biomarker for the degree of inflammation.…”

Association between Allergies and Hypercholesterolemia: A Systematic Review

“…Subsequently, in a case-control design, Yiallouros et al [41], using a logistic regression model, evaluated a possible link between serum HDL levels and asthma in active asthmatic ( n = 68) and current wheezer ( n = 123) populations. A significant trend of decreased serum HDL levels was detected in the asthmatic group compared to healthy controls.…”

Allergic lung inflammation promotes atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

“…In contrast, development of ALI alone did not affect these plasma lipoproteins (Table 2, left), although patients with asthma often have higher plasma LDL and lower plasma HDL than those from control patients. 38,39 Interestingly, data revealed that ALI significantly increased plasma LDL and decreased plasma HDL without affecting plasma total cholesterol levels in mice that developed concurrently atherosclerosis (Table 1, left). These observations remain consistent to what was reported in humans.…”