Body mass index as predictor for asthma: a cohort study of 118,723 males and females

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to quantify the relationship between body mass index (BMI; in kilogrammes per metre squared) and asthma in middle-aged males and females, and to evaluate change in BMI as a risk factor for asthma.Asthma incidence was estimated from data on redeemed prescriptions of anti-asthmatic drugs during the period 2004-2007, retrieved from the nationwide Norwegian Prescription Database. BMI was measured during health surveys in 1994-1999 in .100,000 individuals born during 1952-1959. Change in BMI was based on self-report. Relative risks were estimated using Poisson regression.The relative risk associated with a 3-unit increase in BMI ranged from 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.10-1.18) in current smokers to 1.27 (1.22-1.32) in never-smokers after adjusting for confounders. The relative risk associated with a 3-unit increase in BMI was 1.21 (1.16-1.26) after adjusting for confounders, including sex, smoking and BMI.Asthma incidence, as measured by anti-asthmatic drug use, was positively related to both BMI and change in BMI. For BMI, the association was stronger for never-smokers than for ex-smokers and current smokers.

Modulation of inflammation and immunity by dietary conjugated linoleic acid

“…Recent meta-analysis of several prospective studies has demonstrated that obesity precedes the development of asthma with a relative risk for incident asthma in obese adults of almost 2 (Beuther and Sutherland, 2007). These data were confirmed in a second large study in which the ratio for asthma incidence was 1.21 (Hjellvik et al, 2010). Moreover, diet-mediated weight reduction has been shown to improve asthma symptoms (Stenius-Aarniala et al, 2000).…”

Obesity-Associated Severe Asthma Represents a Distinct Clinical Phenotype

“…[2][3][4] As BMI increases, the relative risk of developing asthma also increases. 5 In addition, increasing BMI is associated with a reduced asthma-related quality of life, more frequent exacerbations, and a greater severity and frequency of respiratory symptoms. [6][7][8] The link between the two appears to be multifactorial and is likely to involve a combination of in utero conditions, genetic factors, comorbidities, and infl ammation secondary to excess adipose tissue.…”

The Incidence of Work-related Asthma-like Symptoms and Dust Exposure in Norwegian Smelters

“…Increased prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms have been found in subjects exposed to a wide range of occupational pollutants in general populations as well as in occupational cohorts of workers exposed to nonspecific agents (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In these studies, the incidence rates have varied in the range 1.5 to 7.3 cases per 1,000 person-years, with an increased rate in subjects with different occupational exposures compared with nonexposed individuals.…”