You may have thought that asthma is just for kids, but new research shows that asthma is an issue for menopausal women as well. Investigators analyzed data from 2000 to 2010 and compared the rates of asthma hospitalization among men and women for different decades. Of the 3,063,045 asthma hospitalizations the researchers looked at for the specific study period, 72% were among women. The ratio of female-to-male asthma hospitalizations particularly peaked in the 50s and 60s age groups.
This finding adds to the growing evidence that estrogen plays an important role in asthma. Previous research has shown a female predominance in asthma prevalence after puberty. As an example, an NIH study in 2009 demonstrated a prevalence of asthma in boys and girls younger than 15 years of age to be 11.9% and 7.7%, respectively. The striking difference shifted when examining young adults aged 15-34 years, with the prevalence of asthma as 6.3% in men and 9.6% in women.
Ultimately, the research shows that asthma is a women’s health issue, and menopausal women should continue to monitor their asthma. Menopausal women should consult with an allergist to lessen the risk of asthma hospitalizations.
To learn more about the different diseases that can come at play during menopause, visit http://menopausenu.org/