Prevalence of obesity in asthma and its relations with asthma severity and control

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of obesity in asthmatic patients attending at an out-patient clinic, and to investigate its relationships with asthma severity and level of asthma control.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study we recruited patients aged 11 years and older with con-firmed asthma diagnosis from the outpatient asthma clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. They underwent an evaluation by a general questionnaire, an asthma control questionnaire and by pulmonary function tests. Nutritional status was classified by body mass index (BMI).Results272 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 51.1±16.5 years and there were 206 (74.9%) female patients. Mean BMI was 27.5±5.3kg/m2, and 96 (35.3%) patients were classified as normal weight, 97 (35.7%) as overweight and 79 (29%) as obesity.There was a significant higher proportion of female than male patients (34.3% vs. 13.2%, p=0.002) in the obesity group. There were no significant differences with respect to asthma control (p=0.741) and severity classification (p=0.506). The FEV1% predicted was significantly higher in the obese than in the non-obese group (73.7% vs. 67.2%, p=0.037). Logistic regression analysis identified sex (OR=3.84, p=0.002) as an independent factor associated with obesity.ConclusionsThis study showed a high prevalence of obesity in asthmatic patients. Obese andnon-obese subjects were similar in regard to asthma severity and level of asthma control. Female sex was associated with obesity in this asthma population