Individuals with type 2 diabetes may be more likely to develop asthma—and vice versa, according to an analysis of data from 17 million participants presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2024 Annual Meeting in Madrid.

"The global rates of asthma and type 2 diabetes, both of which are common health issues, are on the rise," said Nam Nguyen, PhD, of the College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, who led the research. "These conditions negatively impact an individual's quality of life and are expected to create an increasing medical and economic burden. However, the evidence linking the two and the mechanisms behind this connection remain unclear, highlighting the need for comprehensive research into their association."

The study found:

• Individuals with asthma were 28% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) than those without asthma
• People with T2D were 83% more likely to develop asthma than those without T2D
• Asthma severity was associated with a higher risk of T2D, with risk increasing in line with severity
• Asthma duration was not associated with T2D risk.

The research involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies on the topic. Investigators searched four medical journal databases for studies examining the connection between asthma and T2D. The meta-analysis included data from 14 studies conducted across Europe (UK, Finland, Denmark), the United States, and Asia (Korea, Singapore, China, and Israel). Most participants were middle-aged, ranging from 50 to 70 years old.

Further analysis revealed several factors associated with an increased risk of both asthma and T2D, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. The study highlighted the importance of screening for asthma when T2D is diagnosed and for T2D when asthma is diagnosed.

Dr. Nguyen noted the findings have important implications for clinical practice. Preventive strategies should be considered to lower the risk of T2D in individuals with asthma, such as promptly screening for and addressing prediabetes in patients with asthma, and carefully managing the use of systemic corticosteroids, which can cause temporary hyperglycemia and are linked to an increased risk of T2D.

The findings underscore the need for comprehensive research into the association between asthma and T2D, as the evidence linking the conditions and the mechanism behind this connection remains unclear. The study's results suggested that asthma and diabetes may have some underlying causes or other factors in common, opening new avenues for research into potential shared mechanistic pathways between the two conditions.

The authors declared no conflict of interest.