TY - JOUR

T1 - Obesity and Asthma

T2 - Impact on Severity, Asthma Control, and Response to Therapy

AU - Juel, Caroline Trunk-Black

AU - Ulrik, Charlotte Suppli

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Asthma is more prevalent in obese compared with normal weight subjects. Our aim has been to review current knowledge of the impact of obesity on asthma severity, asthma control, and response to therapy.Several studies have shown that overweight and obesity is associated with more severe asthma and impaired quality of life compared with normal weight individuals. Furthermore, obesity is associated with poorer asthma control, as assessed by asthma control questionnaires, limitations in daily activities, breathlessness and wheezing, use of rescue medication, unscheduled doctor visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations for acute asthma. Studies of the impact of a high body mass index (BMI) on response to asthma therapy have, however, revealed conflicting results. Most studies show that overweight and obesity is associated with less favorable response to asthma therapy with regard to symptoms, level of FEV(1), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and airway responsiveness. Some studies suggest that asthma in the obese patient might be more responsive to leukotriene modifiers, orchestrated by leptin and/or adiponectin derived from adipose tissue, than to inhaled corticosteroids, possibly reflecting differences in the underlying airway inflammation in obese vs. non-obese asthmatics.In conclusion, overweight and obesity is associated with poorer asthma control and, very importantly, overall poorer response to asthma therapy compared with normal weight individuals.

AB - Asthma is more prevalent in obese compared with normal weight subjects. Our aim has been to review current knowledge of the impact of obesity on asthma severity, asthma control, and response to therapy.Several studies have shown that overweight and obesity is associated with more severe asthma and impaired quality of life compared with normal weight individuals. Furthermore, obesity is associated with poorer asthma control, as assessed by asthma control questionnaires, limitations in daily activities, breathlessness and wheezing, use of rescue medication, unscheduled doctor visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations for acute asthma. Studies of the impact of a high body mass index (BMI) on response to asthma therapy have, however, revealed conflicting results. Most studies show that overweight and obesity is associated with less favorable response to asthma therapy with regard to symptoms, level of FEV(1), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and airway responsiveness. Some studies suggest that asthma in the obese patient might be more responsive to leukotriene modifiers, orchestrated by leptin and/or adiponectin derived from adipose tissue, than to inhaled corticosteroids, possibly reflecting differences in the underlying airway inflammation in obese vs. non-obese asthmatics.In conclusion, overweight and obesity is associated with poorer asthma control and, very importantly, overall poorer response to asthma therapy compared with normal weight individuals.

U2 - 10.4187/respcare.02202

DO - 10.4187/respcare.02202

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23258582

VL - 58

SP - 867

EP - 873

JO - Respiratory Care

JF - Respiratory Care

SN - 0020-1324

IS - 5

ER -