Asthma and Mental Health: Study Overview
A LARGE UK cohort study has found that adults with asthma who also have depression or anxiety face a significantly higher risk of asthma exacerbations. Researchers analysed electronic healthcare records for 873,482 adults with asthma between 2017 and 2019, tracking asthma attacks over a total of 1.58 million person-years.
Depression and Anxiety Increase Asthma Exacerbations
Adults with asthma and any mental health disorder had an incidence rate of 56 exacerbations per 1,000 person-years, compared with 34 per 1,000 person-years in those without a mental health disorder. After adjusting for confounding factors, the study reported an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.46 for adults with depression or anxiety, meaning a 46% higher risk of asthma attacks. Depression alone had an IRR of 1.34, while anxiety had an IRR of 1.20.
No Significant Impact from Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia
The study found no meaningful increase in asthma exacerbations among adults with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. These findings suggest that the relationship between asthma attacks and mental health is condition-specific, with depression and anxiety posing the greatest risk.
Implications for Asthma Care and Policy
The increased risk of asthma attacks among patients with comorbid depression or anxiety highlights the need for tailored interventions. Clinicians may need to prioritise mental health screening in patients with asthma and provide additional support to reduce exacerbation rates. Public health initiatives targeting this high-risk group could improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burden.
This study provides the first large-scale quantification of asthma exacerbation risk among adults with comorbid mental health conditions in the UK and underlines the importance of integrating mental health care into asthma management.
Reference
Pickard-Michels T et al. Association between mental health disorders and asthma exacerbations in adults: a retrospective cohort study in UK primary care. BMJ Open Res Research. 2025;12:e003244.
