Intake of paracetamol and risk of asthma in adults

J Asthma. 2008 Oct;45(8):675-6. doi: 10.1080/02770900802165998.

Abstract

Intake of paracetamol has been associated with development of asthma. The aim of this study was to address a possible association between intake of paracetamol and risk of adult-onset asthma. Using a multidisciplinary postal questionnaire survey concerning health and lifestyle we prospectively studied 19,349 adult twins enrolled in the nationwide Danish Twin Registry. There was a higher prevalence of new-onset asthma in subjects who reported frequent intake of paracetamol at baseline compared with subjects without this determinant (12.0% vs. 4.3%), OR = 3.03 (1.51-6.11), p = 0.005. The result remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, smoking, BMI, hay fever, eczema, and intake of medications other than paracetamol, OR = 2.16 (1.03-4.53), p = 0.041. Frequent intake of paracetamol is an independent risk factor for adult-onset asthma.

Publication types

  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / adverse effects*
  • Acetaminophen / therapeutic use
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asthma / chemically induced*
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Acetaminophen