Interdisciplinary therapy improves biomarkers profile and lung function in asthmatic obese adolescents

The simultaneous rise in the prevalence of asthma and obesity in the world, have demonstrated the importance of the development of treatment strategies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of interdisciplinary therapy on inflammatory biomarkers and lung function in asthmatics obese adolescents.

Seventy-six post-pubertal obese adolescents were recruited, including 50 non-asthmatics [body mass index (BMI), 36 ± 5 kg/m(2) ) and 26 asthmatics (BMI, 39 ± 4 kg/m(2) ). Body composition was measured by plethysmography, and visceral fat was analyzed by ultrasound. Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. Asthma and lung function were evaluated according to the American Thoracic Society criteria. Patients were submitted to 1-year weight loss interdisciplinary intervention consisting of medical, nutritional, exercise, and psychological therapy.

After interdisciplinary intervention, the lung function and pro/anti-inflammatory adipokines improved significantly in both groups. Most importantly, there was an increase in adiponectin [4 (1.86-12.9) to 5.1 (2.48-16)], a reduction in CRP [2,073 (385-9,174) to 1,538 (205-7,083)] and leptin concentrations [59 (29-69) to 33 (9-49)] in the asthmatics patients. Furthermore, it was observed a reduction in asthma severity after treatment. In addition, Δ adiponectin was an independent factor to improve lung function after therapy in both groups.

Interdisciplinary therapy resulted in beneficial changes in inflammatory biomarkers profile and lung function in asthmatic and non-asthmatic obese adolescents. Additionally, for the first time we showed that change in adiponectin level was an independent predictor to improve lung function in Brazilian obese adolescents.