Abstract
Objectives: Epidemiologic studies have suggested a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and asthma. The effects of obesity on asthma control as well as asthma related quality of life are not well known. We investigated the effect of BMI on asthma control level (ACQ), severity of the disease, lung function, symptoms and asthma related quality of life (AQLQ).
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 204 patients (162 female, 42 male; mean age 36±13 years) were enrolled with mild and moderate asthma according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Patients were stratified by BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 (obese), 25-29.9 kg/m2 (overweight), ≤24.9 kg/m2 (normal and underweight). Outcomes included the recent control of asthma (ACQ), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and daily symptom scores.
Results: Fourty nine of the patients (24%) were considered as an obese and 119 (58.3%) were overweight and obese. No relationship has been observed between sex and obesity (p>0.05). BMI was strongly correlated with age (r=0.533, p=0.01). There was no association between BMI and outcomes as asthma control, asthma related symptom score, FEV1, quality of life.
Conclusions: Our findings suggested that obesity is not associted with worse asthma outcomes in our population. Weight loss may not improve asthma control and quality of life in this population.
- © 2011 ERS