No association between overweight and asthma or allergy in adolescence after wheezing in infancy

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between weight status and asthma, allergy and respiratory symptoms in adolescents with bronchiolitis in infancy.

Subjects and methods: At age 15-18 years, a questionnaire was sent to 96 study subjects hospitalized for wheezing at age <24 months and followed up subsequently. Sixty-seven (70%) of them answered. Weight and height data for body mass index (BMI) calculation were available in 60 (63%) cases. Asthma, allergy, respiratory symptoms and the use of asthma medication were compared between overweight or obese and normal weight groups constructed by age- and sex-specific BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS). Population controls matched for sex, and birth month and place, were recruited for this study phase at age 15-18 years.

Results: Eleven (18.3%) study subjects were overweight (BMI-SDS >0.78 in males and >1.16 in females) and only 3 (5.0%) were obese (BMI-SDS >1.70 in males and >2.10 in females) at 16.5 (median) years of age. Overweight or obesity had no significant association with doctor-diagnosed or self-reported asthma, allergy or the use of inhaled corticosteroids. The negative results were confirmed by adjusted analyses.

Conclusion: Weight status had no association with asthma or allergy in adolescence after wheezing in infancy.