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Association between subcutaneous abdominal fat and airway hyperresponsiveness
Kyung-Mook Kim1, Sun-Sin Kim, Jae-Woo Kwon
1Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings
|January 26, 2011
Summary
Obesity is linked to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). This study found subcutaneous abdominal fat, not visceral fat, significantly increases AHR risk, suggesting a role in asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Obesity Research
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Obesity is a known risk factor for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).
- The specific impact of abdominal fat distribution on AHR prevalence requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between abdominal fat distribution and the prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 3205 subjects with methacholine bronchial provocation tests and abdominal CT scans.
- Objective measurement of total, subcutaneous, and visceral abdominal fat via CT scan.
- Statistical analysis comparing AHR prevalence based on fat distribution, adjusting for smoking and other factors.
Main Results:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference were significantly associated with AHR.
- Increased total and subcutaneous abdominal fat were linked to a higher risk of AHR.
- Visceral abdominal fat showed no significant association with AHR; the link between subcutaneous fat and AHR was notable in men.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous abdominal fat, unlike visceral fat, is significantly associated with airway hyperresponsiveness.
- These findings suggest a potential role for subcutaneous fat accumulation in the development of asthma.
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