Studies on the effects of weight loss in patients with asthma are scarce. No studies have been performed in patients with severe asthma. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the impact of weight loss in patients with severe asthma associated with obesity.This was an open, prospective, randomised study of two parallel groups, in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and moderate obesity. The primary outcome was the level of asthma control 6 months after initiation of the weight reduction programme, quantified using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). We evaluated clinical parameters, lung function, markers of airway inflammation and circulating cytokines.22 patients were randomised to undergo treatment for obesity and 11 to the control group. The weight reduction programme was associated with significant improvements in asthma control (mean¡SE ACQ score 3.02¡0.19 to 2.25¡0.28 in the treatment group versus 2.91¡0.25 to 2.90¡0.16 in the controls, p50.001). This improvement was not accompanied by changes in markers of airway inflammation or bronchial reactivity, but by an increase in forced vital capacity.Our results suggest that weight reduction in obese patients with severe asthma improves asthma outcomes by mechanisms not related to airway inflammation. @ERSpublications Weight loss improves outcomes in severely asthmatic obese patients; poor control results from obesity-related factors

Smoking causes an intense inflammatory reaction in the airways and is associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with asthma. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of active and passive smoking in a population of patients with asthma. The sample of asthma patients (n = 100) consisted of 47 nonsmokers, 33 former smokers, 17 passive smokers and 3 active smokers. Most had moderate or severe asthma. Mean exhaled CO was 9.34 ppb in smokers, 4.19 ppb in passive smokers, 3.98 ppb in nonsmokers and 3.98 ppb in former smokers. We conclude that the prevalence of exposure to tobacco smoke is high among asthma patients.Keywords: Smoking; Asthma; Prevalence. ResumoO tabagismo causa intensa reação inflamatória nas vias aéreas e, em asmáticos, está associado com piores desfechos clínicos. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a prevalência de tabagismo ativo e passivo em uma população de asmáticos. A amostra de pacientes com asma (n = 100) consistiu em 47 não-fumantes, 33 ex-fumantes e 3 fumantes ativos. A maioria dos pacientes tinha asma moderada ou grave. A média de CO exalado foi de 9,34 ppb nos tabagistas atuais, 4,19 ppb nos fumantes passivos e 3,98 ppb tanto nos não-fumantes quanto nos ex-fumantes. Concluímos que a prevalência da exposição à fumaça do tabaco é alta entre asmáticos.

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