Overweight hypothesis in asthma and eczema in young adolescents.
BACKGROUND
A positive association between body mass index (BMI) and allergic diseases has recently been suggested; however the sex-dependence of this association remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between BMI and asthma and eczema, as well as its sex-dependence in young adolescents.


METHODS
Self-reported data obtained through the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three written questionnaires of 2926 young adolescents aged 13-14 years old from randomly selected schools in Skopje (Republic of Macedonia) were used. The BMI for each individual was calculated and used-both unadjusted and adjusted for confounding factors-as a variable for analysis. The international cut-off points for BMI for overweight and obesity by sex and age were used. Because of the very low prevalence of obesity (1.5 %), obese respondents were included in the overweight group. The data were statistically analyzed by the chi-square test, the t-test for independent samples and odds ratios (OR, 95 % CI) in binary logistic regression.


RESULTS
Being overweight was significantly associated with an increased risk of having a dry night cough without a cold or chest infection (adjusted OR: 1.54; 95 % CI: 1.09-2.16; p = 0.01) and with having had self-reported asthma at some time (adjusted OR: 2.36; 95 % CI: 1.02-5.44; p = 0.04) in boys only. A significant association between overweight and other symptoms of asthma or atopic eczema was not established.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest a male-specific positive association between overweight and a current dry night cough and having received a diagnosis of asthma at some time. No association was found with other asthma symptoms or atopic eczema in young adolescents.
Vlaski
E
E
Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, University Children's Hospital, Skopje, R. Macedonia. vlaskie@sonet.com.mk
Stavric
K
K
Isjanovska
R
R
Seckova
L
L
Kimovska
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003371:Cough; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D020919:Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology