Obesity in aspirin-tolerant and aspirin-intolerant asthmatics.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is an important factor in the development of asthma. Aspirin hypersensitivity affects 5-10% of asthmatics. The association between obesity and aspirin hypersensitivity in asthma is unclear. This study evaluated the association of BMI and asthma in patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) and aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA).


METHODS
Aspirin provocation tests were performed in 667 asthmatic patients and changes in FEV(1) were used to categorize patients as ATA or AIA. The BMI of asthmatics was graded using the percentile BMI of 406 normal controls.


RESULTS
Aspirin-induced changes in FEV(1)% ranged from 15% to 68%. Compared with the controls, the ATA group had a higher BMI (24.5 +/- 0.1 vs 23.8 +/- 0.2 kg/m(2), P = 0.001). The AIA group had a lower BMI. The aspirin-induced percentage fall in FEV(1) was inversely correlated with BMI in asthmatic patients (r = -0.094, P = 0.016). BMI was correlated with age and PC20, but not with FEV(1) in asthmatic patients. In a logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, and smoking status, FEV(1) and PC20 were associated with AIA with odds ratios of 0.986 and 0.586, respectively. BMI was associated with AIA with an odds ratio of 0.916.


CONCLUSIONS
Aspirin intolerance in asthmatics explains the lesser association with obesity. Obesity is not a risk factor in the development of asthma in patients with AIA.
Jang
An-Soo
AS
Division of Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Asthma and Allergy Research Group, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon, Korea.
Park
Jong-Sook
JS
Park
Sung-Woo
SW
Kim
Do-Jin
DJ
Uh
Soo-Taek
ST
Seo
Ki-Hyun
KH
Kim
Yong Hoon
YH
Park
Hae-Sim
HS
Park
Choon-Sik
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin