Unveiling the connection: asthma and endometriosis - a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Asthma and endometriosis are two prevalent chronic conditions that affect a significant portion of the population. Both conditions have been linked to inflammatory processes and immune dysregulation, suggesting the possibility of a shared pathophysiological mechanism. Despite the growing interest in the connection between asthma and endometriosis, the current literature remains inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to consolidate the available evidence and provide a comprehensive understanding of the association between asthma and endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify studies that met our criteria. The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for individuals with endometriosis and non-endometriosis controls who have asthma. Additionally, we performed subgroup analyses based on geographic region to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. The research protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024567249). RESULTS: Six eligible case-control studies involving 66,997 cases and 3,253,658 controls were used to examine the association between asthma and endometriosis. Through a comprehensive search and analysis of relevant studies, a significant association between asthma and endometriosis was identified (OR: 1.786, 95% CI: 1.511-2.111, P < 0.001). The correlation showed significant heterogeneity in the study (I2 = 75.709; P-value = 0.001), with geographic region identified as a significant factor contributing to this variation. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrates a significant link between asthma and endometriosis, highlighting the need for comprehensive management that addresses both conditions.