TY - JOUR

T1 - Increased body mass index predicts severity of asthma symptoms but not objective asthma traits in a large sample of asthmatics

AU - Bildstrup, Line

AU - Backer, Vibeke

AU - Thomsen, Simon Francis

PY - 2015/9

Y1 - 2015/9

N2 - AIM: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and different indicators of asthma severity in a large community-based sample of Danish adolescents and adults.METHODS: A total of 1186 subjects, 14-44 years of age, who in a screening questionnaire had reported a history of airway symptoms suggestive of asthma and/or allergy, or who were taking any medication for these conditions were clinically examined. All participants were interviewed about respiratory symptoms and furthermore height and weight, skin test reactivity, lung function, and airway responsiveness were measured.RESULTS: A total of 516 individuals had asthma. The mean BMI was 24.9 kg/m(2) (SD = 5.1). Asthma severity measured by GINA score increased with increasing BMI (p = 0.009). The result remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, medication use for asthma and smoking (p = 0.010). Severity of individual asthma symptoms; cough (p = 0.002) and chest tightness (p = 0.023) was also significantly related to BMI, whereas severity of wheezing and shortness of breath was not. Airway obstruction was more pronounced in subjects with increased BMI (p < 0.001) but the effect disappeared after adjustment for covariates (p = 0.233). Lung function, airway responsiveness, and atopy were not significantly related to BMI as were use of medication for asthma and adherence to treatment.CONCLUSIONS: In adults, increased body mass index predicts severity of asthma symptoms but not objective asthma traits.

AB - AIM: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and different indicators of asthma severity in a large community-based sample of Danish adolescents and adults.METHODS: A total of 1186 subjects, 14-44 years of age, who in a screening questionnaire had reported a history of airway symptoms suggestive of asthma and/or allergy, or who were taking any medication for these conditions were clinically examined. All participants were interviewed about respiratory symptoms and furthermore height and weight, skin test reactivity, lung function, and airway responsiveness were measured.RESULTS: A total of 516 individuals had asthma. The mean BMI was 24.9 kg/m(2) (SD = 5.1). Asthma severity measured by GINA score increased with increasing BMI (p = 0.009). The result remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, medication use for asthma and smoking (p = 0.010). Severity of individual asthma symptoms; cough (p = 0.002) and chest tightness (p = 0.023) was also significantly related to BMI, whereas severity of wheezing and shortness of breath was not. Airway obstruction was more pronounced in subjects with increased BMI (p < 0.001) but the effect disappeared after adjustment for covariates (p = 0.233). Lung function, airway responsiveness, and atopy were not significantly related to BMI as were use of medication for asthma and adherence to treatment.CONCLUSIONS: In adults, increased body mass index predicts severity of asthma symptoms but not objective asthma traits.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Asthma

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Cough

KW - Denmark

KW - Dyspnea

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Respiratory Function Tests

KW - Respiratory Sounds

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Severity of Illness Index

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.3109/02770903.2015.1005840

DO - 10.3109/02770903.2015.1005840

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25582044

VL - 52

SP - 687

EP - 692

JO - Journal of Asthma

JF - Journal of Asthma

SN - 0277-0903

IS - 7

ER -