Meta-analysis of the association between asthma and serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Background: The reported associations of blood lipid profiles with asthma are ambiguous. Objective: To explore the association between asthma and the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Methods: A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese Biomedical Literature databases. Ten studies were identified. We divided these studies into 2 subgroups according to age: children (< 18 years old) and adults (>= 18 years old). Results: In children, the asthma group had lower HDL-C levels (weighted mean difference, -3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.83 to -1.04; P =.005) compared with the nonasthma group, whereas the serum levels of LDL-C in these 2 groups were not statistically different. In contrary, in adults, the asthma group had higher LDL-C levels (weighted mean difference, 8.95; 95% confidence interval, 3.55-14.35; P =.001) compared with the nonasthma group, whereas the HDL-C levels were not statistically different. Conclusion: There is a significant association between asthma and the serum levels of HDL-C and LDL-C. Moreover, this association differs in children and adults. (C) 2016 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.