The relationship between asthma and overweight in urban minority children.
BACKGROUND
This study was performed to determine the relationship between overweight [body mass index (BMI) > or = 85th percentile] and asthma as determined by spirometry.


METHODS
Spirometry was performed according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines, and BMI was calculated. Asthma was defined as a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) <80% predicted and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) >5% lower than predicted for age and sex.


RESULTS
One-hundred-nine children (age 14.7 +/- 1.6 years) were enrolled. Eighty children (73%) were African-American, and 29 children (27%) were white. Fifty-eight (53%) children were overweight. Twelve (11%) children, of whom nine (75%) were overweight, met the criteria for asthma. Baseline FEV1 percent predicted (87 +/- 6% vs. 83 +/- 7%, p=0.03), FEV1/FVC (93 +/- 6 vs. 87 +/- 8, p<0.001), and FEV1 percent predicted following albuterol administration (94 +/- 7 vs. 89 +/- 7%, p=0.03) were all lower in overweight children. Children with asthma were almost 1.5 times more likely to be overweight compared with children without asthma (relative risk: 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.015-2.17).


CONCLUSIONS
Inner-city children are more likely to be overweight compared to the general population. Asthma is a risk factor for overweight in these children.
Hasan
Rashed A
RA
Michigan State University, Pediatric Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine, Flint, MI, USA. rhasan1@hurleymc.com
Zureikat
George Y
GY
Nolan
Brian M
BM
LaChance
Jenny L
JL
Campe
Julie L
JL
Amin
Raouf
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008913:Minority Groups; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology*; D012574:Schools; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*