Study: Genetic Profile and Proximity to Roadways Affect Asthma Symptoms

Patients with asthma with certain genotype combinations demonstrate more intense symptoms when combined with a close proximity to roadways, suggesting that traffic-related air pollution exposure may affect the likelihood of asthma diagnosis and exacerbations, according to a recent

published by

studyScientific Reports.

The researchers examined the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the combinations of SNPs in the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR) pathway, residential distance to roadway as a proxy for traffic-related air pollution exposure, and asthma diagnosis and exacerbations.

The study considered individual data on genotype, residential address, asthma diagnosis, and exacerbations from the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry. Patients were divided into 3 groups—hyper-responders, hypo-responders, and neither—and they measured the participants' distance between their residence and nearest major road.

Patients with certain genetic profiles had exhibited more intense symptoms following exposure to traffic pollution. Furthermore, patients with asthma who lacked this genetic profile did not have the same sensitivity to traffic pollution and do not experience worse asthma symptoms.

To read the full article, visit theAmerican Journal of Managed Care.