Long-term prognosis of new adult-onset asthma in obese patients

• Background: Obesity has been associated with poor outcomes of asthma in cross-sectional studies, but long-term effect of obesity on asthma remains unknown. Aims: To study the effects of obesity, found at the time of diagnosis of adult-onset asthma, on 12-year prognosis by focusing on oral corticosteroid (OCS) use and respiratory-related hospital admissions. Methods: Patients diagnosed with adult-onset asthma (n=203) were divided into three categories based on diagnostic body mass index (BMI) (<25 kg.m(-2), 25-29.9 kg.m(-2), >= 30 kg.m(-2)) and followed for 12 years as part of the Seinajoki Adult Asthma Study. Self-reported and dispensed OCS were assessed for the 12-year period. Data on hospital admissions were analysed based on medical records. Results: 12 years after diagnosis, 86% of the patients who were obese (BMI.30 kg.m(-2)) at diagnosis remained obese. During the follow-up, no difference was found in weight gain between the BMI categories. During the 12-year follow-up, patients obese at diagnosis reported more frequent use of OCS courses (46.9% versus 23.1%, p=0.028), were dispensed OCS more often (81.6% versus 56.9%, p=0.014) and at higher doses (median 1350 (interquartile range 280-3180) mg versus 600 (0-1650) mg prednisolone, p=0.010) compared to normal-weight patients. Furthermore, patients who were obese had more often one or more respiratory-related hospitalisations compared to normal-weight patients (38.8% versus 16.9%, p=0.033). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, obesity predicted OCS use and hospital admissions. Conclusions: In adult-onset asthma, patients obese at diagnosis mostly remained obese at long-term and had more exacerbations and respiratory-related hospital admissions compared to normal-weight patients during 12-year follow-up. Weight loss should be a priority in their treatment to prevent this outcome.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

cluster-analysis

incident asthma

body-mass

risk

phenotypes

age

inflammation

association

Respiratory System

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)