The association between body mass index and frequency of emergency department visits and hospitalization for asthma exacerbation in a pediatric population

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of both asthma and obesity are increasing. Although some studies suggest an association between body mass index (BMI) and frequency of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization for asthma exacerbation, any association remains unproven.OBJECTIVEEstimate the frequency of asthma exacerbation in obese children, and identify any relationship between BMI and frequency of ED visits and hospitalization for asthma exacerbation.DESIGNRetrospective review of medical records.SETTINGSTertiary children’s hospital, Riyadh.SUBJECTS AND METHODSAll children aged 2–15 years who attended the ED for asthma exacerbation between January 2015 and January 2016 were included. Children with comorbidities or undocumented asthma were excluded. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BMI-for-age growth charts for boys and girls aged 2 to 20 years were used to classify underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESThe frequency of ED visits and the rate, frequency, and duration of hospitalization.RESULTSOf the 1000 cases reviewed, 64.6% were boys and the mean age (standard deviation) of all subjects was 5.6 (3.3) years. The proportions of overweight and obese children was 11.8% and 12.1%, respectively. There was no association between increased BMI and frequency of ED visits for asthma exacerbation (P=.84), duration of hospitalization (P=.41) or frequency of hospitalization (P=.89).CONCLUSIONThere was no evidence of an association between BMI and frequency of ED visits and hospitalization for asthma exacerbation among children.LIMITATIONSThis study included patients as young as 2 years, while asthma is only well-defined in children >5 years. Asthma triggers that can cause exacerbation despite body weight were not included. We included only frequency of ED visits and hospitalization, which may be inadequate to measure asthma severity.

Hubungan Status Gizi dengan Kejadian Asma pada Anak yang dirawat di Bangsal Anak Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Dr. M. Zein Painan Sumatra Barat

“…Perbedaan hasil tersebut dapat disebabkan oleh beberapa kondisi, salah satunya informasi tentang pencetus asma, seperti faktor lingkungan dan aktivitas fisik yang tidak disertakan dalam data penelitian, saat pencetus asma tersebut ternyata berkontribusi pada eksaserbasi asma terlepas dari status gizi. 29 Hasil penelitian ini sejalan dengan penelitian Ginde dkk 30 yang melaporkan kondisi nutrisi anak (dihitung menggunakan IMT) tidak berhubungan dengan tingkat keparahan asma. Pada penelitian tersebut juga dilakukan penilaian terhadap initial pulmonary index (IPI) dan Rania Salsabila dkk: Hubungan status gizi dengan kejadian asma yang dirawat di RSUD Dr. M. Zein Painan Sumatra Barat mendapatkan hasil yang sama antara sampel dengan undernutrition dan overnutrition.…”

Asthma exacerbations and body mass index in children and adolescents: experience from a tertiary care center

“…Asthma prevalence and incidence continue to rise in children worldwide [1]. While there are many factors that contribute to the severity of asthma exacerbations, there is an increasing interest in the association between elevated body mass index (BMI) and asthma exacerbations [2,3]. There are various theories of how obesity and asthma are related, with Shan et al…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma and Allergy-Related Diseases among Adolescents (PERFORMANCE) study: rationale and methods

“…Apart from the well-established environmental risk factors, childhood asthma is also modulated by social and behavioural cues. Childhood obesity has emerged as a major risk factor for asthma among young adults [ 24 – 28 ]. At the same time, poverty is a contributing factor for aggravated asthma symptoms among children [ 29 , 30 ].…”