Tuberc Respir Dis.  2011 Jul;71(1):24-29.

The Association of Obesity, Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Atopy in Chronic Cough Patients: Results of a Two-Center Study

• Park SY
• Park JW
• Oh YM
• Rhee YK
• Lee YM
• Park YB
• Lim SY
• Korean Asthma Study Group

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The rising prevalence of asthma worldwide may be associated with the rising prevalence of obesity in developed nations. Although several studies have suggested a relationship between asthma and obesity, controversy still remains. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and asthmatic factors such as atopy, eosinophilia, serum total Ig E and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronic cough patients.
METHODS
This study was a retrospective, observational study in two centers done between January 2007 and June 2008. The subjects included individuals who had a chronic cough. We examined body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity and pulmonary function. We did a metacholine provocation test for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a skin prick test for atopy, and tests for blood eosinophils and serum IgE.
RESULTS
A total of 1022 subjects were included. Airway hyperresponsiveness was not related with obesity (p=0.06), and atopy incidence was significant higher in non obese patients (p=0.00). There was no significant difference in serum IgE and blood eosinophil counts between obese and non obese patients. Forced expiratory volue in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly reduced in obese patients (p=0.03), but FEV1 and FVC were no significant difference between obese and non obese patients.
CONCLUSION
There is no relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The nonobese group appears to have more atopy. The relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy need further investigation.

Keyword

Obesity; Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness; Dermatitis, Atopic

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Body Mass Index
Cough
Dermatitis, Atopic
Developed Countries
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Incidence
Obesity
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Vital Capacity
Immunoglobulin E

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