Basal or stress-induced cortisol and asthma development: the TRAILS study

Abstract

We examined the association between: 1) cortisol levels and asthma or asthma development; 2) cortisol levels upon stress and asthma. In addition, we performed a post hoc meta-analysis on results from the literature.Cortisol, cortisol upon stress, asthma (doctor diagnosis of asthma and/or symptoms and/or treatment in the past 12 months) and asthma development (asthma at a specific survey while not having asthma at the previous survey(s)) were assessed in the TRAILS study (n52230, mean age at survey 1 11 years, survey 2 14 years and survey 3 16 years). Logistic regression models were used to study associations between: 1) cortisol (cortisol awakening response, area under the curve (AUC) with respect to the ground (AUCg) or with respect to the increase (AUCi), and evening cortisol) and asthma or asthma development; 2) cortisol upon stress (AUCg or AUCi) and asthma. The meta-analyses included nine case-control articles on basal cortisol in asthma.No significant association was found between: 1) cortisol and asthma (age 11 years) or asthma development (age 14 or 16 years); 2) cortisol upon stress and asthma (age 16 years). The metaanalysis found lower morning and evening cortisol levels in asthmatics compared to nonasthmatics; however, the summary estimates were not significant.We found no evidence supporting a role for cortisol in asthma and asthma development.

Identification and association of relationships between selected personal and environmental factors and formal components of temperament and strategies of coping with stress in asthmatic patients

“…Although paroxysmal bronchospasm and dyspnea are clearly induced by inflammation, asthma is a psychosomatically conditioned disease [7,8]. Chronicity and paroxysmal nature of symptoms, impaired social and family functioning of the sick person, disturbed human relationships, school absenteeism and less intense professional activity might greatly decrease the mood and the quality of life of patients [1,4].…”

Temperament and stress coping styles in bronchial asthma patients

“…On the other hand, strong subjective feelings of stress induced by any factors unrelated to the disease are known to potentially induce severe dyspnea in bronchial asthma patients [9]. One of the mechanisms of dyspnea induction in asthma patients exposed to stressful factors is hyperventilation, which, together with the overlapping bronchial hyperreactivity typical of the pathophysiology of asthma, causes severe bronchospasm and a paroxysm of dyspnea.…”

Adult-onset asthma: is it really different?

“…This association was evident for both sexes and was not explained by either occupation, age, body mass index or smoking; although the results did differ by smoking status. Stress has been shown to modulate and activate a number of biological pathways that may be involved in asthma pathophysiology [87,88]. It can modulate inflammatory processes via the release of hormones and neuropetides, which have the potential to interact with immune cells.…”