Study of the association between obesity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and asthma in preschool children

Abstract

Background Asthma and obesity are recognized as pathological conditions characterized by systemic inflammatory state. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the most important endogenous inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator and uro-plasminogen activator and is thus the major physiological inhibitor of both fibrinolysis and plasmin activation. Purpose To identify the role of PAI-1 in a group of Egyptian obese asthmatic preschool children and to identify some risk factors for simple obesity and asthma, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, and type of feeding. Patients and methods This study was a cross-sectional case–control study that was carried out on 90 children attending Foua Hospital for health insurance in Kafar Elsheikh and Alzahraa University Hospital from September 2015 to March 2017. Results The frequency of obese children with asthma of high socioeconomic level was higher (63.3%) in comparison with nonobese children with asthma and controls. The prevalence of patients with asthma living in urban areas was higher than those living in rural areas (66.7%). Children who received artificial feeding are more frequent in asthmatic obese (66.7%) when compared with asthmatic nonobese and controls. PAI-1 had significant increase in asthmatic obese (1549.24±340.54) in comparison with other groups. Conclusion Asthmatic obese children are more frequent among high socioeconomic level and in urban areas. PAI-1 is significantly higher in asthmatic obese than asthmatic nonobese children.