...But Asthma May Raise Stroke Incidence

Asthma may increase the risk of stroke; yet it does not appear to raise the danger ofdeveloping coronary artery disease, according to the results of a study reported in Thorax(August 2005). For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Riskin Communities study to investigate the possible association between asthma, coronaryheart disease, and stroke.

The study found that rates of coronary heart disease were not affected in participantswho currently had asthma, had asthma at some point in the past, or never had it. For men,asthma was linked with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease after factoring in majorcardiovascular risk factors. The investigators found, however, that ever having asthmawas connected with a 65% greater risk of stroke, compared with never having had asthma.The participants currently with asthma had the greatest increased risk, 93%.