Japanese Patients With Obesity-Related Bronchial Asthma May Benefit From Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Weight loss can effectively improve asthma control for some patients with obesity-related bronchial asthma, but it is difficult in certain patients. Bariatric surgery may enhance asthma control in such patients.

We evaluate the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), as an example of bariatric surgery, on asthma control in patients with obesity-related bronchial asthma.

We analyzed 521 of our patients who underwent bariatric surgery between June 2016 and February 2024. They each had a self-reported history of bronchial asthma and were receiving treatment for it at the time of surgery. We assessed Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, short-acting beta agonist (SABA) use based on the ACT, and respiratory function tests before and after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon's signed rank test, with significance defined as P < 0.05.

Fifteen patients were included (86.7% female, median age: 46 years, median body mass index (BMI): 41.0 kg/m², median ACT score: 22). Fourteen of them underwent only LSG; the other also had duodenal bypass. The median percentage total weight loss at six months post surgery was 21.8%. ACT scores improved from 20.8 ± 3.5 to 24.4 ± 1.2 points (P = 0.0039), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) increased from 2.45 ± 0.47 L to 2.74 ± 0.51 L (P = 0.0001), and SABA use decreased by 86.7%, indicating that the patients had better bronchial asthma control than before surgery.

LSG appears to improve asthma control in certain patients with obesity-related bronchial asthma.