Global burden of asthma associated with high body mass index from 1990 to 2019

High body mass index (BMI) plays a key role in the progression of asthma and asthma related to high BMI resulted in a high burden of disease globally.

To explore the geographic and temporal trends in the global burden of asthma associated with high BMI from 1990 to 2019.

This is a retrospective analysis with data based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. Deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) were estimated according to sex, age, and sociodemographic index levels. The estimated annual percentage change was used to evaluate the variation trends of ASMR and ASDR from 1990 to 2019.

In 2019, the number of global asthma deaths and DALYs related to high BMI increased by 69.69% and 63.91%, respectively, compared with 1990, among which more deaths and DALYs occurred in women. The corresponding ASMR and ASDR exhibited a slightly decreasing tendency globally. South Asia accounted for the highest number of deaths and DALYs, with India ranking first worldwide in 2019. The number of deaths and DALYs were mainly seen in individuals 60 to 79 years old and 55 to 69 years old, respectively, from 1990 to 2019. The heaviest burden existed in the low-middle sociodemographic index region.

The global asthma burden associated with obesity increased in absolute value but the standardized burden decreased slightly. Large variations existed in the high BMI-related asthma burdens among sexes, ages, and regions.