AIRWAY INFLAMMATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY FUNCTION IN OBESE ASTHMATIC INDIAN CHILDREN

Abstract

Objective: Obesity and asthma are related conditions, however, the underlying mechanism between the two is not understood. This study aims to determine the correlations between fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry parameters in obese asthmatic children. Design and method: In this study, 47 overweight/ obese asthmatic children (physician-diagnosed children with partly/ uncontrolled asthma as per Global Initiative forAsthma guidelines) were recruited from Pediatrics Chest Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. The measured height and weight were used to calculate BMI. BMI derived was categorized by using Z score tables of WHO-BMI for age standards for boys and girls between 5 and 19 years. Children were assessed using measurement of FeNO(NIOX1; Aerocrine, Solna, Sweden), and spirometry parameters were assessed using Superspiro MK2 Micro Medical Ltd, UK. Correlation between FeNO levels and spirometry parameters were investigated using Spearman’s correlation coefficients. Results: The mean ± SDage was 11.3 ± 2.5 years (males, n = 37), BMI = 24.91 ± 7.05 Kg/m2 and median (interquartile range) FeNO levels were 22.0 (17.0, 65.0) ppb. The mean ± SD predicted forced expiratory flow (FEF25–75) predicted was 83.5 ± 16.3%. The mean age of onset of asthma was 6.3 years. Twenty-four children had partly controlled asthma and 23 children had uncontrolled asthma. FeNO was significantly and inversely correlated with predicted FEF25-75 (r = -0.378, p < 0.001). Conclusions: FeNO an easily measurable indicator of airway inflammation in combination with lung function may prove a useful tool in the asthma assessment and management in obese Indian asthmatic children.