Central obesity is associated with nonatopic but not atopic asthma in a representative population sample - 20/08/11
, David H. Wilson, PhD a, Anne W. Taylor, MPH b, Richard E. Ruffin, MBBS, MD aon behalf of the North West Adelaide Health Study Team
Reprint requests: Robert J. Adams, MBBS, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Campus, Woodville Rd, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia.Woodville and Adelaide, Australia
Abstract |
Background |
Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated the association between high body mass index (BMI) and asthma, yet the relationship between asthma and the alternative central obesity phenotypes, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), has not been assessed in a representative population sample.
Objective |
To determine the strength of the association of WC and WHR with current asthma and whether the association is modified by atopic status in a representative population sample.
Methods |
The North West Adelaide Health Study, a biomedical population study of n = 4060, assessed current asthma, respiratory symptoms, and participant demographics by self-completed questionnaire. Clinic assessment included measures of WC and WHR, spirometry, and skin prick tests to a panel of allergens.
Results |
Logistic regression analysis showed a significant, marginal increased adjusted risk of asthma associated with obese levels of WC and WHR and BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2 in female subjects only. When the association was considered stratified according to atopic status, the relationship between obese levels of WC and WHR with asthma held only for the nonatopic population in both males (WC: odds ratio [OR] 5.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-28.8; WHR: OR 6.2, 95% CI, 1.1-32.9) and females (WC: OR 2.3, 95% CI, 1.2-4.4; WHR: OR 3.0, 95% CI, 1.5-5.9). BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2 showed an inconsistent pattern in the association with asthma.
Conclusion |
Central obesity was significantly associated with an increased risk of nonatopic asthma only. The causal pathway is unknown, but this study suggests the involvement of different pathophysiological mechanisms requiring further investigation.
Clinical implications |
Asthma should be considered in older, nonatopic, centrally obese, symptomatic individuals.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Asthma, asthma epidemiology, obesity, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, atopy
Abbreviations used : AHR, BMI, CLD, OR, SBR, WC, WHR
Plan
| Supported by the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Department of Health. Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest. |
Vol 118 - N° 6
P. 1284-1291 - décembre 2006 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Adult obesity, farm childhood, and their effect on allergic sensitization
- Katja Radon, Anja Schulze
- Does allergen-specific immunotherapy represent a therapeutic option for patients with atopic dermatitis?
- Caroline Bussmann, Anette Böckenhoff, Henning Henke, Thomas Werfel, Natalija Novak
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?