IMPULSE OSCILLOMETRIC EVALUATION OF AIRWAY RESISTANCE IN OVERWEIGHT AND
OBESE CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA
Abstract
Background: Change in airway resistance and inflammation are the two
most commonly accused pathogenetic processes in the coexistence of
asthma and obesity. The aim of this study was to compare airway
resistance between normal weight and overweight/obese children using
impulse oscillometry (IOS). Methods: We consecutively enrolled 3 to
10-year-old children with asthma who presented to our department between
May and August 2018. Ones with a body mass index percentile at or above
85th percentile were grouped as overweight/obese. Sociodemographic
characteristics such as age, sex and family history of allergy were
recorded and Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids (TRACK) was
filled in for all. Finally, impulse oscillometric (IOS) measurements
were taken. Results: We enrolled 170 subjects; among which 114 (67.1%)
were normal weight while 56 (33%) were overweight/obese.
Sociodemographic characteristics were not significantly different
between the two groups, but asthma control was significantly worse in
the overweight/obese group (75.9±21.1 vs 85.9±17.8, p=0.001). Impulse
oscillometric measurements of resistance and reactance were nor
significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Asthma
control in children who are overweight or obese are worse compared to
the normal weight ones but, airway resistance and reactance measured by
IOS at different frequencies are not significantly different between
these two groups. This implies that airway resistance change may not the
main pathogenetic mechanism underlying the uncontrolled asthma and
obesity coexistence.