TY - JOUR T1 - Does childhood obesity influence asthma, or wheeze phenotype at age 6 years? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P1626 AU - Katharine Pike AU - Hazel Inskip AU - Sarah Crozier AU - Keith Godfrey AU - Graham Roberts AU - Jane Lucas Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1626.abstract N2 - Rationale Obesity is associated with adult asthma, notably non-atopic asthma. Obesity-related systemic inflammation and mechanical effects may explain this association. The relationship between obesity and childhood asthma is unclear.Methods 3 and 6-year age, height and gender standardised body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated for 937 children from the Southampton Women’s Survey. Relative risks per SD BMI were calculated for questionnaire-determined asthma (ever), and wheeze aged 6 years. Wheeze was classed atopic or non-atopic by skin prick testing. Spirometry, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were assessed at 6 years. Likely confounders were adjusted for.Results 3-year BMI was associated with asthma (RR 1.2, p=0.03). Neither 3 nor 6-year BMI was associated with atopy or wheeze phenotype. 3-year BMI and non-atopic wheeze at 6 years were positively but non-significantly associated. 3-year BMI was positively associated with FEV1 (p=0.02) and BHR (p=0.05). 6-year BMI was inversely associated with FEV1/FVC (p=0.04). Neither 3 nor 6-year BMI was associated with FeNO.Conclusions This study found 3-year BMI to be associated with asthma and BHR. There was evidence for both developmental and current effects of childhood obesity: higher 3-year BMI, possibly as a marker of adequate nutrition, was associated with higher FEV1, whilst higher 6-year BMI predisposed to an obstructive pattern of lung function. Lack of association between BMI and FeNO, together with the non-significant association between 3-year BMI and non-atopic wheeze suggests atopy is unaffected by obesity and that the association between obesity and asthma reflects a non-eosinophilic phenotype. ER -