Impact of Body Mass Index on Asthma Exacerbations in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a very common respiratory disease in childhood and adolescence, and the symptoms occur often enough to impair quality of life and resource utilization significantly. The increasing body mass index (BMI) is said to be a factor in an individual having more severe asthma or in poor control of asthma. Objective: To know the relationship between BMI and asthma exacerbation among pediatric patients managed in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics and Medicine of District Headquarter Hospital, Turbet, from January 2018 to December 2022. The study reviewed medical records of 220 children and adolescents (aged 5-18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma. Based on BMI, the participants were divided into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Further data analysis was done using SPSS, and various tests, such as chi-square and multivariable logistic regression, were applied. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical board of Mekran Medical College. Results: The present study showed that moderate exacerbations were increased in the obese and overweight children with a p-value of 0.01. Their parameters of lung function were significantly lower FEVâ‚ and FEVâ‚/FVC ratio. These obese children also required higherion use—inhaled corticosteroids (76.6%) and systemic corticosteroids (40%)—than their normal-weight counterparts (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: The role of BMI in the occurrence of exacerbations of asthma and control of asthma in children and adolescents is of tremendous importance. The findings of our study may affect pediatric asthma management dramatically. Obese and overweight children appear to have an increased rate of exacerbations and poorer lung function, whereas underweight children seem to have a tendency to undergo severe exacerbations. Such findings warrant immediate attention and the need for individualized asthma management options related to BMI.