Perceived stress and risk of adult-onset asthma and other atopic disorders: a longitudinal cohort study

Background Psychological stress can affect airway inflammatory response to irritants and allergens, but the importance of stress in the etiology of adult‐onset respiratory and dermatologic allergic disorders remains unclear. We aim to address the relationship between perceived stress and the risk of adult‐onset asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma/bronchitis medication. Methods Participants (n = 9785) from the Copenhagen City Heart Study, Denmark, free of atopic disorders at baseline in 1981–1983 were asked questions on stress intensity and frequency. They were followed for first‐time asthma hospitalization in nationwide registers until 2010, with