Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT1613

Background and Objectives: Asthma and diabetes pose major global health concerns. While the link between asthma and type 1 diabetes is well-documented, the connection between asthma and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains less explored. Recent findings suggest that this relationship is more intricate than previously believed, extending beyond the conventional T-helper 1/2 paradigm. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between asthma and T2DM, as well as to explore potential contributing factors and mechanisms.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across four databases up to October 31, 2013, to identify studies investigating the relationship between asthma and T2DM. Studies that did not specify the type of diabetes were excluded. Data on disease risk, including event counts and odds ratios (ORs), were extracted and analyzed using meta-analysis techniques. Pre-specified analyses included subgroup analysis, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis, and dose-response analysis.

Results: Fourteen studies, encompassing a total of 17 million participants, were included in the analysis. A bidirectional association between asthma and T2DM was observed (P< 0.01), suggesting potential shared pathological mechanisms. The presence of hypertension and dyslipidemia may partially mediate this relationship. Additionally, asthma severity, rather than disease duration, was linked to an increased risk of T2DM (P = 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.

Conclusions: This study identifies a reciprocal association between asthma and T2DM, emphasizing the need for early screening and preventive interventions for one condition when the other is diagnosed.