A comparative study to determine clinical and spirometric profile among patients of asthma in different body mass index groups

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity is the most common co-morbidity and disease modifier of asthma; it has been associated with increased risk of asthma exacerbations, worse respiratory symptoms and poor asthma control. The objective of study was to determine the relation of body mass index (BMI) with the level of asthma control and to study the clinical presentation and spirometric profile of asthma patients from different BMI groups. Materials and methods: The descriptive prospective study done among confirmed asthmatic patients who were attending the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, outpatient department (OPD) and inpatient department (IPD). The study was demographic, clinical and spirometric parameters in asthmatic patients who were on optimal pharmacotherapy among different BMI categories. Results: Total 144 diagnosed asthma patients were included; the overall mean age of the study group was 34.27 ± 11.7 years and the majority of patients 50 (34.72%) were between 18-27 years of age group. Moderate asthma (FEV1 60-79) was observed to be the most common in all BMI groups. The severe asthma (FEV1 <60) was observed with BMI > 30kg/m2 in asthma patients (p=0.27). Conclusions: The poor control of asthma was significantly frequent in the overweight and obese BMI group, regardless of the findings of no differences in spirometry. Our results suggest that obese individuals with asthma show a higher incidence of one-year follow-up hospitalization due to exacerbation symptoms than non-obese individuals.