title: Higher BMI is associated with worse asthma control and quality of life but not asthma severity.
abstract: Asthma and obesity tend to co-occur, but relatively few studies have linked obesity, measured using body mass index (BMI), to clinically relevant measures of asthma morbidity. This study assessed BMI in a Canadian sample of asthma outpatients, and evaluated associations between BMI and levels of asthma severity, asthma control, and asthma-related quality of life. A total of 382 adult asthma patients underwent demographic and medical history interviews on the day of their clinic visit. Patients' self-reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI (kg/m(2)). Asthma severity was classified according the GINA (2002) guidelines. Patients completed the Asthma Control (ACQ) and Asthma Quality of Life (AQLQ) Questionnaires and underwent standard pulmonary testing (spirometry). A total of 139 (36%) patients had a normal BMI; 149 (39%) patients were overweight; and 94 (25%) patients were obese. There was no relationship between BMI and asthma severity when controlling for age and sex. Patients with higher BMI scores had higher ACQ and lower AQLQ scores, independent of age, sex and asthma severity. Results identify higher BMI and obesity as potential behavioral factors related to worse asthma control and quality of life, but not asthma severity, and suggest important avenues for asthma management and control initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Department of Chest Medicine, J-3190, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, 5400 Gouin West, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4J 1C5. kim-lavoie@crhsc.rtss.qc.ca
authors.forename: Kim L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: Blaine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ditto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents