title: Association between obesity and asthma in the elderly population: potential roles of abdominal subcutaneous adiposity and sarcopenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a significant risk factor for asthma; however, the association of asthma with obesity has rarely been studied in the elderly population. The role of central obesity has been suggested as a link between the 2 entities but has not been comprehensively studied in elderly populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms of association between obesity and asthma in the elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional analysis included 994 participants (aged ≥65 years) in the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging. Asthma was defined by using questionnaires. Spirometry and chest radiography were performed to exclude asthma-mimicking conditions. Measurements of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat were calculated by computed tomography of the abdomen, and regional body compositions were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Biochemical parameters were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of asthma was 5.4%. The study population had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.0. Multivariate logistic regression tests revealed that the risk of asthma increased in proportion to an increase in BMI or abdominal subcutaneous adiposity. However, no association was found with visceral adiposity, serum adiponectin levels, or serum vitamin D levels. The dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-measured appendicular fat-free mass index was inversely related to asthma among patients with a BMI of 25.0 or greater.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the relationships between obesity and asthma in the elderly population may be mediated by factors such as abdominal subcutaneous adiposity and sarcopenia. These associations warrant further investigations to identify their potential roles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Jung
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sae-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Hye
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki-Woong
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hak-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyung-Up
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology*