Abstract
BackgroundStudies evaluating the association between abdominal obesity and asthma yielded conflict results. Whether abdominal obesity is positively associated with asthma remains unclear.ObjectiveTo quantitatively determine the association between abdominal obesity and asthma.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc, Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal Database and Wanfang Data were searched up to February 2018 to collect all relevant studies. Reference lists of related articles were also checked. After study selection and data extraction, meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses by study design and age groups of participants were further performed. Publication bias was assessed via Begg’s rank correlation and Egger’s linear regression methods.ResultsA total of 13 studies were included in the final meta-analysis, including 2 case–control studies, 6 cohort studies, and 5 cross-sectional studies. Our meta-analysis observed a positive association between abdominal obesity and asthma (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.35–1.59). No evidence of heterogeneity (I2 = 10.7%) or publication bias (Begg’s test P = 0.200, Egger’s test P = 0.146) was found. Subgroup analyses by study design and age groups of participants obtained consistently positive results across subgroups. Moreover, our meta-analysis observed similar results when considering this association separately in males and females (Males: OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.18–1.58; Females: OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.22–1.58). In addition, the association between abdominal overweight and asthma was further explored in this meta-analysis and the pooled OR and 95% CI was 1.13 (1.03, 1.24), indicating that there is a dose–response relationship between abdominal weight status and asthma.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis shows a positive association between abdominal obesity and asthma. Moreover, this association is similar in males and females. In addition, our meta-analysis indicates that there is a dose–response relationship between abdominal weight status and asthma. Therefore, addressing abdominal obesity issue is of great importance. More studies are needed in the future to clarify the association between abdominal obesity and asthma.
Highlights
Studies evaluating the association between abdominal obesity and asthma yielded conflict results
This association is similar in males and females
Addressing abdominal obesity issue is of great importance
Summary
Studies evaluating the association between abdominal obesity and asthma yielded conflict results. Whether abdominal obesity is positively associated with asthma remains unclear. As one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases, asthma affects about 358 million people worldwide [1]. It is projected that by 2025, this number will increase to 400 million [2]. As a major cause of disability, absenteeism, and huge medical expenses, asthma places a substantial burden on the whole society [3, 4]. As is known to all, is a worldwide public health problem. In 2015, approximately 107.7 million children and 603.7 million adults worldwide were obese, accounting for about 30% of the world’s population [7]. Jiang et al Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol (2019) 15:16
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