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Obesity and bronchial obstruction in impulse oscillometry at age 5-7 years in a prospective post-bronchiolitis cohort
Eero Lauhkonen1, Petri Koponen1, Kirsi Nuolivirta2
1Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University and University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Insights
Childhood obesity may be linked to airway obstruction, but not bronchial hyper-reactivity. This study examined weight status, lung function, and exercise-induced airway responses in children previously hospitalized for bronchiolitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Obesity Research
- Respiratory Health
Background:
- Obesity is associated with asthma symptoms and reduced lung function in children.
- Previous studies have not consistently linked childhood obesity with increased bronchial reactivity.
- Early life factors, including weight status, may influence respiratory health in school-aged children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between weight status (current and past) and lung function in early school-aged children.
- To evaluate the relationship between weight status and bronchial reactivity to exercise.
- To assess the impact of early life weight on respiratory parameters.
Main Methods:
- Impulse oscillometry (IOS) was used to measure lung function in 99 children hospitalized for bronchiolitis before age 6 months.
- Current body mass index z scores (zBMI) were calculated, and birth weight data were collected.
- Children's lung function and bronchial reactivity to exercise and bronchodilators were assessed at a mean age of 6.3 years.
Main Results:
- Low to modest correlations were observed between current zBMI and impulse oscillometry values.
- Obese children showed higher post-bronchodilator airway impedance and resistance, and lower frequency dependency of resistance.
- No significant differences in exercise or bronchodilator responses were found between obese/overweight and normal-weight children. Lower birth weight was linked to greater exercise-induced changes in airway resistance and reactance.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest a potential association between childhood obesity and airway obstruction.
- The study did not find evidence linking obesity to bronchial hyper-reactivity in this cohort.
- Birth weight may also play a role in exercise-induced airway responses.
Background And Aims:
Obesity has been linked with asthma symptoms, need for asthma treatment and reduced lung function but not with increased bronchial reactivity in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between previous or current weight status and current lung function and bronchial reactivity to exercise at early school age.
Methods:
Ninety-nine children hospitalized for bronchiolitis at the age of less than 6 months were studied with impulse oscillometry (IOS) at the mean age of 6.3 years. Data on birth weight and weight gain in infancy before hospitalization were collected during hospitalization. Current weight and height data were transformed into age- and sex-specific height-related body mass index z scores (zBMI) using the Finnish national population-based weight and height data as reference.
Results:
Some significant though only low or modest correlations were found between current zBMI and baseline, post-exercise and post-bronchodilator IOS values in adjusted linear regression analysis. Seven obese children by zBMI had higher post-bronchodilator airway impedance (Zrs) and resistance (Rrs) at 5 Hz and lower post-bronchodilator frequency dependency of resistance (dRrs/df) than normal weight children. There were no significant differences in responses to exercise or to bronchodilators between currently obese or overweight children and normal weight children. Birth weight less than 3,000 g was associated with larger exercise-induced changes in Zrs and Rrs at 5 Hz, and in reactance (Xrs) at 5 Hz, than those with birth weight more than 3,000 g.
Conclusions:
Preliminary evidence was found that obesity may be associated with airway obstruction, but not with bronchial hyper-reactivity.
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