Increased detection of atherosclerosis in asthma patients

Background:

Both asthma and atherosclerosis represent chronic inflammatory disorders. The aim of our present study was to determine if asthma may be associated with increased detection of atherosclerosis.

Methods:

82 patients with allergic asthma and 21 matched controls underwent angiological examinations comprising the measurements of central pulse wave velocity (cPWV), ultrasound-based speckle-tracking analysis, ancle-brachial index (ABI) and duplex-sonographic detection of atherosclerotic plaques. Additionally, cardiovascular risk markers such as total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, fibrinogen, d-dimer and blood count were assessed in blood.

Results:

Asthma patients were characterized by increased central pulse wave velocity (6.3 ± 0.3 m/s vs. control: 4.9 ± 0.3 m/s, p < 0.05) and reduced circumferential (3.4 ± 0.2% vs. control: 4.3 ± 0.4%, p < 0.05) and radial strains (3.6 ± 0.2% vs. control: 5.0 ± 0.3%, p < 0.05) indicating an enhanced vessel stiffness. Media sclerosis identified by an ABI≥1.3 was significantly more frequent in asthma individuals (36.6% vs. control: 9.5%). The most important finding was the increased atherosclerotic plaque detection in asthma collective (37.8%) compared to the control (14.3%, p < 0.05). Except for relevantly increased fibrinogen concentrations (3.3 ± 0.11 g/l vs. control: 2.7 ± 0.1 g/l) and leukocyte number (7.9 ± 0.3G/l vs. control: 5.9 ± 0.2G/l) in asthma patients, there were no further differences in cardiovascular risk factors in blood between the groups.

Conclusions:

Asthma patients presented significantly more pronounced atherosclerosis compared to the control group.