Heavy metal in the physical environment may alter immune function and predispose to develop asthma in human. Our study was aimed to investigate associations between urinary heavy metals and asthma in adults. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 3425 subjects aged 20 years and older in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. Binary logistic regression was applied to analyze associations between cobalt (Co), tungsten (W), and uranium (U) and asthma. We found positive associations between U and asthma (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.25, 2.44, P for trend < 0.01). U was positively associated with asthma in 20–59 years group (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.11, 2.46), while W and Co were related with asthma among in above 60 years group (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.24, 4.58, P for trend = 0.02; OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.47, respectively). U was linked with asthma in both males and females (OR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.16, 3.20; OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.51, respectively). Positive associations between U and asthma were discovered among adults with family history of asthma or not (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.95, P for trend = 0.03; OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.43, P for trend = 0.03, respectively). Remarkable association was observed between U and asthma in adults without hay fever (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.24, 2.60, P for trend = 0.02). Our findings provide epidemiological evidence to highlight a need to prioritize heavy metals exposure with asthma.

物理环境中的重金属可能会改变免疫功能，并易患人类哮喘。我们的研究旨在调查成人尿中重金属与哮喘之间的关系。在2011-2014年美国国家健康和营养检查调查（NHANES）中，对3425名20岁以上的受试者进行了回顾性横断面研究。应用二元逻辑回归分析分析钴（Co），钨（W）和铀（U）与哮喘之间的关联。我们发现U与哮喘之间呈正相关（OR = 1.74，95％CI：1.25，2.44，P趋势<0.01）。在20-59岁组中U与哮喘呈正相关（OR = 1.65，95％CI：1.11，2.46），而在60岁以上组中W和Co与哮喘相关（OR = 2.39，95％CI：1.24 ，4.58，P趋势= 0.02; OR分别为1.88、95％CI：1.02、3.47）。男性和女性的U均与哮喘相关（OR分别为1.93、95％CI：1.16、3.20; OR分别为1.59、95％CI：1.01、2.51）。有哮喘家族史或没有（OR = 2.15，95％CI成年人中被发现U和哮喘之间的正相关：1.17，3.95，P趋势= 0.03; OR = 1.62，95％CI：1.08，2.43，P为趋势分别为0.03）。在没有花粉热的成年人中，U与哮喘之间存在显着关联（OR = 1.79，95％CI：1.24，2.60，P = 0.02）。我们的发现提供了流行病学证据，以强调需要优先考虑重金属与哮喘的接触。