Asthma prevalence was higher among opioid-dependent patients than the general population, and the prevalence is even greater amongst opioid-dependent women.
Researchers found that the prevalence of asthma among patients with opioid dependence was more than double the national rate.
Among 1966 patients with opioid dependence, 338 patients—or 17.2%—had a diagnosis of asthma. For comparison, the team used the national prevalence of asthma of 8.3% in 2016, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Perhaps this is because opioids relieve dyspnea?
Perhaps more people with asthma become dependent because their symptoms are relieved rather than more people with dependency becoming asthmatic.