Table 2

Summary of studies reporting comorbidities with asthma.

Comorbidity Study

Study Quality Score/8

Arthritis

(%)

CVD

(%)

Diabetes

(%)

Hypertension

(%)

Malignancy

(%)

Mental problem/

depression^#

(%)

Osteoporosis

(%)

Asthma

Adams et al, 2006 [30] ≥ 55 yrs n = 2050 self-report of doctor diagnosed asthma and comorbidities (asthma prevalence 9.6%)

6

56.9

26.9 (HD)^a

9.1 (Stroke)^b

12.1

-

17.7

-

17.3

NHS 2004–05 [2] ≥ 65 yrs n = 3,212 self-report all conditions (asthma prevalence 9.41%)

7

63.4

20.1

16.0

-

5.7

8.1

-

Adams et al, 2006 [30] ≥ 18 yrs n = 7,443 self-report of doctor diagnosed asthma and comorbidities (asthma prevalence 11.2%)

6

21.4.

6.9 (HD)^a

1.5 (Stroke)^b

5.3

-

5.5

-

4.7

Goldney et al, 2003 [31] ≥ 15 yrs (mean age 44 yrs) n = 3010 self-report of doctor diagnosed asthma (prevalence 9.9%), depression assessed by PRIME-MD questionnaire^c

6

-

-

-

-

-

22.1# (all depression)

14.4# (major depression)

-

NHS 2004–05 [2] ≥ 25 yrs n = 17,202 self-report all conditions (asthma prevalence 9.40%)

7

32.0

6.7^d

6.1^d

-

3.2^d

15.0

-

Pilotto et al, 2004 [36] ≥ 18 yrs (mean age 48 yrs) n = 170 GP recruitment of asthma patients, self-report of comorbidities

4

-

11.8^e

7.1

18.2

-

-

6.5

-, not reported; #, depression only; ^aHD, Heart Disease; ^bStroke; ^cPRIME-MD, primary care evaluation of mental disorders questionnaire, a validated tool used to diagnose depression/mental health disorders; ^d ≥ 45 years, data for 25 years and over were reported to have a high standard error and were deemed to be used with caution²; ^eangina, heart failure or other heart disease.

Caughey et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:221   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-221