ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the role of body fat distribution in the pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma.Methods Totally 125 patients with stable asthma were recruited and were divided into non-obese group (n =51),peripheral obesity group (n =34) and central obesity group (n =40) according to body mass index and waist circumference.The FEV1％,FVC,FEV1/FVC ratio,IL-6,and hs-CRP levels in peripheral blood,eosinophil and neutrophil percentage in induced sputum,as well as exhaled NO levels were determined,and asthma control test (ACT) scores were calculated.Both one-way analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used for statistical analysis.Results The values of FVC in the central obesity group and the non-obese group were [3.98 (3.99) ±0.99] L and [4.51 (4.51) ±1.00] L,while the levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP in peripheral circulation and the percentage of neutrophils in induced sputum were [33.63 (33.28) ± 14.04] ng/L and [21.22 (21.33)±11.23] ng/L,[2.12 (2.15) ±0.73] mg/L and [0.92 (0.91) ±0.61] mg/L,52.58 (52.81) ± 14.14 and 45.41 (45.34) ± 12.84,respectively (all P ＜ 0.05).After adjusting for inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) doses,the ACT scores were also significantly higher in central obesity group (22.10 ± 1.68 vs.23.01 ± 1.62) (P ＜ 0.05).Only the hs-CRP level was found significantly higher in peripheral obesity group than in non-obese group [(1.54±0.68) mg/Lvs.(0.91 ±0.61) mg/L] (P＜0.05).Conclusion Central obesity may play the leading role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma.