Asthma is difficult to be controlled in overweight individuals as compared to the leaner counterparts. Researchers from the Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique in Montpellier, France found that it is more difficult to achieve an acceptable level of asthma control in an overweight person, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more. The researchers used a model to analyse data from 406 asthmatics, who were followed for a median of 182 days. In addition to examining BMI status, the model accounted for asthma severity as well as current and past oral corticosteroid use. In analyses taking into account potentially confounding factors, overweight status decreased the likelihood of achieving acceptable asthma control by 47 percent. Moreover, overweight individuals gained acceptable control of their asthma more slowly than their non-overweight peers. The findings suggest that excess weight appears to be an independent determinant of uncontrolled asthma. Thus it is more important to manage the weight for effective control of asthma.
Allergy,
February 2006