Abstract
Background: Overweight both in childhood and adolescence is an increasing challenge word-wide and associated with an increased incidence of asthma. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated if overweight in childhood and adolescence is associated with an increased risk of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a hallmark of asthma, in adulthood.
Methods: Of 537 subjects from a random population sample of children and adolescents (7 to 17 years) examined in 1986 (baseline visit), 189 completed a follow-up visit in 2006. Both visits included assessment of height and weight, spirometry and case history, including asthma and allergic diseases. At both visits, bronchial provocation tests were performed using either histamine (baseline visit) or metacholine (follow-up visit).
Results: Subjects who were overweight or obese at baseline visit (n=26) (paediatric definition, body mass index (BMI) ≥85%percentile), had a significant higher BMI at follow-up visit, compared with participants of normal weight at baseline visit (n=163) (mean (SD) 30.9 (7.0) vs. 24.8 (3.1), respectively, p<0.001). However, no difference in prevalence of AHR was found at follow-up between subjects who were overweight or obese at baseline visit compared to normal weight subjects (positive bronchial provocation tests: 13.0% vs. 21.9%, respectively, p=0.33).
Conclusion: In children and adolescence, being obese or overweight seems not to be associated with an increased risk of having airway hyperresponsiveness to metacholine in adulthood.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016
