The assessment of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with obesity and asthma before and after exercise

It is well-known that children who suffer from obesity and asthma may also have exercise-induced bronchospasm. Exhaled nitric oxide is an indicator of airway inflammation, and could be affected by exercise. This study looked at how exercise, which is a typical cause of acute airway obstruction, affects the levels of FeNO and spirometric parameters in obese and asthmatic children.

Seventy children between the ages of 6 and 18 were divided into four groups: healthy children, obese children with asthma, obese children without asthma, and normal-weight asthmatic children. FeNO and spirometric parameters were assessed before and after exercise. Their heart rate was raised to 160-170 beats per minute by walking on a flat surface.

The highest mean FeNO was seen in the asthmatic-obese group, while the lowest mean FeNO was found in the healthy group. MEF25-75 increased with exercise in the obese non-asthmatic group. FEV1/FVC was the lowest in the asthmatic-obese group.

FeNO and FEV1/FVC have a strong association with asthma. The highest values of FeNO found in asthma-obesity combined. It was seen that obesity increased inflammation but exercise did not affect FeNO values. FeNO and FEV1 values were found to be higher in obese patients with and without asthma than normal weight and overweight asthmatics and non-asthmatics.