Cohort study, 1998
Do some asthmatic women experience worsening asthma symptoms during their menstrual cycle?
Yes, in this study about 28% of asthmatic women reported menstrual-related asthma worsening with increased inhaler use and decreased airflow during the premenstrual phase. These women tended to be older with more severe asthma.
What they did
This was a prospective study of 32 women with asthma and regular menstrual cycles. Women recorded daily asthma symptoms, medication use, and breathing measurements over 6 consecutive menstrual cycles. They also had breathing tests (spirometry and methacholine bronchoprovocation) during the luteal and follicular phases of 2 cycles.
What they found
Nine of 32 women (28.2%) reported menstrual-related asthma. Women with perimenstrual asthma had significantly increasing inhaler use and decreasing peak flow rates during the perimenstrual interval. Women with perimenstrual asthma were older (P=.007), had longer duration of asthma (P=.039), and increased baseline asthma severity (P=.076) compared with women without perimenstrual asthma.
What it means for you
Some asthmatic women experience menstrual-related asthma worsening, and these women tend to be older with more severe asthma. They may need closer monitoring during their menstrual cycle. The study is exploratory and relatively small.
32
Women with asthma studied
28.2%
Percentage with perimenstrual asthma worsening
6
Consecutive menstrual cycles tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Clinical differences among women with and without self-reported perimenstrual asthma
- Authors
- Shames RS, Heilbron DC, Janson SL et al.
- Journal
- Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 32
- What was tested
- Measurement of asthma symptoms and lung function across menstrual cycles
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s1081-1206(10)63111-0