Impact of obesity on asthmatic children

ABSTRACT

Bronchial asthma and obesity are prevalent disorders in children and adolescents. The association between asthma and obesity was elucidated in many studies with possible effect of obesity on asthmatic children. The aim of the present study was Assessment of the effect of obesity on the quality of life and pulmonary function of asthmatic children. This study included 100 asthmatic children and adolescents, 52 of them were obese and 48 were non obese asthmatics. Peak expiratory flow Rate [PEFR] was measured for every participants in the study. All children were exposed to pediatrics asthma quality of life questionnaire [PAQLQ] which included 23 items and divided into 3 domains. The results of the present study showed that the mean score of total PAQLQ in obese group was 5.15 +/- 0.47 and in non obese group it was 5.81 +/- 0.42, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups, When comparing the three domains of PAQLQ between the two groups it was found that the mean of symptoms domain in the obese group was 5.03 +/- 0.48 and in non obese group it was 5.74 +/- 0.50. The mean of physical activity domain in the obese group was 5.34 +/- 0.67 and in non obese group it was 5.88 +/- 0.43. In addition the mean oh emotions domain in obese group was 5.08 +/- 0.86 and in non obese group it was 5.81 +/- 0.60. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in three domains of PAQLQ. There was no statistically significant difference between the obese and non obese asthmatic children regarding PEFR. Obesity affects asthmatic children by decreasing their quality of life, therefore it is recommended to fight obesity as one of the strategies to treat asthma