Disability and Risk of Asthma in young adults : A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Background Asthma is a common chronic airway disease influenced by various factors, including emerging evidence suggesting the role of disability. However, the association between disability and asthma risk remains understudied in young adults. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Information Database, including 5,369,424 adults aged 20 to 39 years who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012. Incident asthma was identified using diagnostic codes, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess its association with disability after adjusting for key demographic and clinical factors. Results Among 5,369,424 participants, 1.5% had a registered disability. During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, individuals with disabilities had modestly increased risk of developing asthma compared to those without disabilities (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–1.16). Stratified analyses showed elevated asthma risk in those with epilepsy, mental disorders, physical disabilities, and visual impairment, while autism spectrum disorder was associated with reduced risk. Conclusion Disability in young adults is associated with a modest increase in risk of incident asthma, with risk varying by disability type. These findings highlight the importance of inclusive health surveillance and further research into the underlying mechanisms. Trial registration Not applicable.