LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACT: Endometriosis and the airways: Results from a population based Northern European cohort

Aims: There is increasing evidence for a hormonal component in airways disease. Endometriosis is a prevalent estrogen-dependent condition with genetic and immunological traits. Its association with asthma, hayfever and self-repported COPD is scarcely studied. We investigated the association of endometriosis with chronic obstructive diseases, and the role of familial and reproductive factors in this association Methods: 4791 women aged 38-66 years from 7 centers in 5 countries participating in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) between 2011 and 2013 responded to questionnaires on respiratory health and on women´s health; 201 women reported endometriosis. Logistic regressions were performed with adjustment for smoking, bmi and center Results: Endometriosis was related to significantly increased risk of current asthma (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.23-2.78), wheeze (1.92, 1.37-2.70), ≥3 respiratory symptoms (1.96, 1.36-2.82), hay fever ever (1.73, 1.28-2.34), chronic symptoms of sinusitis (2.51, 1.64-3.83) and self-reported COPD (1.91, 0.95-3.84). Use of exogeneous hormones or menopausal status did not explain the associations. Maternal COPD (p=0.005), paternal COPD (p=0.005) and paternal cardiometabolic disease (0.002) were significant predictors of endometriosis, but did not explain the associations Conclusions: Endometriosis was related to higher risk of current asthma, hayfever, sinusitis and self-reported COPD.