title: No association between overweight and asthma or allergy in adolescence after wheezing in infancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between weight status and asthma, allergy and respiratory symptoms in adolescents with bronchiolitis in infancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  At age 15-18 years, a questionnaire was sent to 96 study subjects hospitalized for wheezing at age <24 months and followed up subsequently. Sixty-seven (70%) of them answered. Weight and height data for body mass index (BMI) calculation were available in 60 (63%) cases. Asthma, allergy, respiratory symptoms and the use of asthma medication were compared between overweight or obese and normal weight groups constructed by age- and sex-specific BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS). Population controls matched for sex, and birth month and place, were recruited for this study phase at age 15-18 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven (18.3%) study subjects were overweight (BMI-SDS >0.78 in males and >1.16 in females) and only 3 (5.0%) were obese (BMI-SDS >1.70 in males and >2.10 in females) at 16.5 (median) years of age. Overweight or obesity had no significant association with doctor-diagnosed or self-reported asthma, allergy or the use of inhaled corticosteroids. The negative results were confirmed by adjusted analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight status had no association with asthma or allergy in adolescence after wheezing in infancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. marja.ruotsalainen@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruotsalainen
authors.forename: Mari K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hyvärinen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saari
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piippo-Savolainen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korppi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents