Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Nov 29: A landmark UK cohort study has revealed that adults living with asthma who also suffer from depression or anxiety are at a significantly higher risk of asthma exacerbations.

Researchers analysed electronic health records of 873,482 adults with asthma between 2017 and 2019, covering 1.58 million person-years, to determine how mental health influences asthma flare-ups.

The study found that asthma patients with any mental health disorder experienced 56 exacerbations per 1,000 person-years, compared to 34 per 1,000 among those without mental health issues. After adjusting for other factors, adults with depression or anxiety had an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.46, indicating a 46% higher risk of asthma attacks. Depression alone had an IRR of 1.34, while anxiety stood at 1.20.

Interestingly, the research showed no significant increase in asthma flare-ups among patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, suggesting that the link between mental health and asthma exacerbations may be condition-specific.

Health experts say the findings highlight the urgent need for integrated care. Clinicians may need to routinely screen asthma patients for depression and anxiety and offer tailored support to prevent attacks. Public health programmes focusing on this high-risk group could also help reduce hospitalisations and ease the burden on the healthcare system.

This is the first large-scale UK study to quantify asthma attack risk among adults with comorbid mental health conditions, underscoring the importance of combining respiratory and mental health care for better outcomes.