Pediatric obesity and its effects on asthma control
1The Allergy & Asthma Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
|October 31, 2013
Summary
This study found no significant difference in asthma control metrics between normal weight, overweight, and obese children. However, overweight children showed a higher mean FEV1% (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), indicating better lung function in this specific measure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Obesity Research
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Persistent asthma affects many children, with weight being a potential influencing factor.
- Clinical observations suggest obese children may report more asthma symptoms.
- Objective measures of asthma control in relation to weight are crucial for understanding disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between overweight/obesity and asthma control in pediatric patients (ages 7-18).
- To compare asthma control parameters across normal weight, overweight, and obese children with persistent asthma.
- To determine if weight status impacts objective measures of lung function and medication use.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient charts from an asthma specialty practice.
- Inclusion criteria: pediatric patients (7-18 years) with persistent asthma.
- Comparison of four variables: controller medications, systemic corticosteroids, FEV1% predicted, and FEV1/FVC% predicted across weight groups.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in controller medication use, systemic corticosteroid prescriptions, or FEV1/FVC% between weight groups.
- A statistically significant difference was found in FEV1% predicted (p = .004).
- Overweight children exhibited the highest mean FEV1% (92.47 ± 16.74%), with significant differences noted between normal weight and overweight, and overweight and obese groups.
Conclusions:
- Objective asthma control, as measured by lung function and medication burden, did not show a statistically significant decline in overweight or obese pediatric asthma patients compared to normal weight peers.
- Despite subjective reports of increased symptoms in obese children, objective data in this study did not support a link to poorer asthma control.
- Further research may be warranted to explore the discrepancy between subjective symptom reporting and objective lung function measures in pediatric asthma and obesity.
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