Obesity associates with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults with asthma

Asthma and obesity are prevalent conditions that are increasing worldwide. Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and bronchial variability, while obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that poses significant morbidity and mortality risks. Obesity is a risk factor for asthma and a plethora of other non-communicable diseases.

To compare all-cause and cause-specific mortality between obese, overweight and normal weight adults with asthma in a cohort with long-term follow-up.

Individuals from a population-based adult asthma cohort recruited in Norrbotten county, Sweden, were clinically examined between 1986 and 2001 and grouped into body mass index (BMI) categories. Underlying causes of death until December 31st, 2020 were categorized as cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer and other mortality by linking cohort data to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare's National Cause of Death register. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality associated with overweight and obesity were calculated via Cox proportional hazard models.

In total, 940 individuals were normal weight, 689 overweight and 328 obese while only 13 were underweight. Obesity increased the hazard for all-cause (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.54) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03-1.97). Obesity was not significantly associated with respiratory or cancer mortality. Overweight did not increase the hazard of all-cause or any cause-specific mortality category.

Obesity, but not overweight, was significantly associated with increased hazard of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults with asthma. Neither obesity nor overweight were associated with increased hazard of respiratory mortality.