Effects of Obesity on Pulmonary Functions and Disease Control in Asthma

Abstract

Objectives and Background: Recent data shows a growing evidence about a parallel increase in asthma and obesity prevalence and a negative relationship between obesity and some clinical properties of asthma as control status, pulmonary functions and some other parameters. We aimed to evaluate the effect of obesity on asthma control, asthma control status, asthma severity and pulmonary function tests of asthma patients in order to have a reliable data to offer weight loss for obese asthmatics and to achieve a better asthma control and diminished asthma related health-costs. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. 104 adjacent adult patients dignosed as asthma enrolled in the study after assignment of the written informed consent. A detailed demographic and clinical settings incliding asthma control status and severity, the number of attacks in the last year was recorded. Asthma control test is applied to all participants . Pulmonary function test (PFTs) and skin test were recorded. Results: 79 (70,5%) of study population was female. Mean age of participants was 43,5. Intermittant asthma was diagnosed only in 6.7% of patients. 31.73% of participants were well-controlled. 44,2% were obese. The mean FEV1 of obese and nonobese asthmatics were 2,15±0,68 and 2,94±0,8 respectively (p<0.001). The mean FVC of obese and nonobese asthmatics were 2,64±0,67 and 3,36±1,03 respectively (p<0.001). The mean asthma control test point was lower in obese asthmatics than nonobese (17,39 ±5,06,19,03±5,45 respectively p:0.045). Conclusions: Obesity is associated with a worse asthma control and lower pulmonary functions . In addition to standard medical treatments, weight loss may be advised as an alternative strategy for achieving asthma control and better pulmonary functions in asthma.