Fertility Treatment Resulting in Live Births in Women with Asthma - Associated with Perennial Allergy?

• Published in: Journal of asthma and allergy 2020-01, Vol.13, p.145-152
• Main Authors: Tidemandsen, Casper, Vejen Hansen, Anne, Backer, Vibeke, Gade, Elisabeth Juul, Ali, Zarqa, Suppli Ulrik, Charlotte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allergy; Ambulatory care facilities; Asthma; atopy; Comparative analysis; fertility; Fertilization in vitro; Fungi; ivf; Original Research; Pregnancy; Regression analysis; Time; Women
• ISSN: 1178-6965; 1178-6965
• DOI: 10.2147/JAA.S246873

Asthma has been linked with prolonged time to pregnancy compared to healthy controls, also asthma has been linked to a higher need for fertility treatment. However, knowledge of the possible association between allergy and need for fertility treatment is limited. Our aim was to explore a possible difference in having had fertility treatment in women with asthma and live births in those with perennial allergy (animals, fungi and dust mites) compared to no allergy/seasonal allergy. The primary outcome of interest was fertility treatment. Women enrolled in the Management of Asthma during Pregnancy (MAP) program at Hvidovre Hospital, DK, were included in the present analysis provided they fulfilled the following criteria: 1) diagnosed with asthma and current anti-asthma therapy and 2) first visit to the respiratory outpatient clinic within the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. Participants were divided into two groups: asthma with perennial allergy (cases) and asthma with seasonal/no allergy (controls). Logistic regression analysis was applied, and findings expressed as odds ratios (OR). Among women with asthma and perennial allergy (n=544 cases), 13.8% (n=75) had fertility treatment, compared to only 10.1% (n=39) among women with asthma and seasonal/no allergy (n=388, controls) (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.95-2.16, p=0.087). This association remained statistically insignificant after adjusting for confounders, including BMI (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.77-1.84, p=0.433). In women ≥35 years of age, 28% (n=44) and 20% (n=19), respectively, among cases and controls had fertility treatment (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.87-2.94, p=0.132), and likewise, statistically insignificant after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.74-2.69, p