Does Inflammatory Bowel Disease Increase the Risk of Chronic Respiratory Diseases?

A recent study utilizing data from 430,414 UK Biobank participants shows a significant association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and an increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Notably, individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC) were found to have a 45% increased risk of COPD and a 41% higher risk of asthma compared to those without IBD.

The study aimed to investigate the connection between IBD and respiratory diseases, an association previously suggested only through cross-sectional data. The chronic inflammation seen in IBD, such as Crohn disease and UC, may contribute to the development of other systemic inflammatory conditions, making this research crucial for understanding potential long-term health risks in this population.

Researchers followed participants from recruitment between 2006 to 2010 until 2021, with a median follow-up period of 11.9 years. COPD and asthma cases were identified through hospital records and death registries. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess the risk of these respiratory diseases in those with IBD compared with non-IBD participants.

Results indicated an increase in the risk of developing both COPD and asthma among participants with IBD. The overall adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for COPD was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.33-1.79), and for asthma, it was 1.52 (95% CI, 1.29-1.79) in the IBD population. Individuals with Crohn disease had an even higher risk of COPD (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.36-2.15) and asthma (HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.33-2.25), while those with UC also demonstrated elevated risks for both COPD (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.20-1.75) and asthma (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.15-1.73).

While these findings underscore a potential link between IBD and respiratory diseases, the study has limitations. As an observational study, it cannot establish causality. Additionally, the study relied on hospital and registry data, which may underreport milder cases of respiratory diseases managed in primary care.

“This study suggested that individuals with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, highlighting the importance of preventing chronic respiratory diseases among inflammatory bowel disease patients,” the authors concluded.

Reference

Dan L, Xie Y, Fu T, et al. Increased risk of chronic respiratory disease among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease in a prospective cohort study. Am J Med. Published online Oct 4, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.09.001.