Effect of obesi̇ty on impuls osci̇llometer in asthmatic cases aged 3-10 years old

Introduction: Asthma; is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased airway responsiveness to various stimuli and recurrent airway obstruction. Obesity is defined as an increase in the amount of fat in the body. Obesity, which is a serious health problem for elderly people due to the consequences, threatens children as well as adults. Asthma and obesity are serious health problems that are frequent all over the world. The frequency of both pathologies have been increasing in recent years. This parallel rise suggests a causal relationship between them. Several theories have been proposed to explain the relationship between obesity and asthma. One of these theories: Functional residual capacity due to the mechanical effects of obesity on the lungs (FRC), tidal volume, forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1) and decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC). According to the suggested theories, obesity can affect asthma severity and respiratory functions. In this study, the effect of obesity on respiratory functions especially on airway resistance has been evaluated in asthimatic children via impulse oscillometer which is one of the equipment that evaluate respiratory functions. Method: This study included 110 asthmatic cases aged between 3-10 years old which are tracked by Department of Pediatric Immunology and Department of Allergic Diseases and Department of Pediatric Chest Diseases in Celal Bayar University. The body weight and height of children who were diagnosed with asthma were measured. BMI percentages that determined according to sex for Turkish children aged between 2-18 years old have been used to evaluate BMI percentages in addition to their body weight and height. Cases which are 90 and over percentile BMI assumed as obese patient. Cases are tested with Jager MS-IOS (master screen IOS, care fusion / Germany) equipment in Celal Bayar Univeristy Polyclinic of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases and Allergic Diseases. Age, sex, the age of diagnosis of asthma, number of attacks in the year, current allergic stuation (epicutaneous allergen skin prick test result), birth story ( birth week, birth wieght, mode of delivery), duration of breastfeeding, whether there is any family member who smoke or not in same house with the child, presence of allergy in kin members relative to kid; are registered by interwieving parents. ÇİSAKT (Respiratory and Asthma Control Test for Children) test has been applied to the cases to determine control level of their asthma. Results: The IOS X20 value was found lower in obese individuals. IOS R5, IOS R10 and IOS R15 values were found to be lower in the low birth weight group than in the normal weight group which were found to be statistically significant. IOS X5 and IOS X10 was found higher as IOS AX was found lower in individuals who has allergy in their family. IOS R20 value was found to be significantly higher in the group which was exposed to smoke in comparison to the nonexposed group. IOS X20 value was found lower in the group who have used prophylactic than the group who haven't use prophylactic. Conclusion: Impairment was found at respiratory function tests in comparison to control group with respect to IOS results in the group who are obese, who had low birth weigth, has allergy in their family story, who were exposed to secondhand smoke and did not use prophylactic; and this situation supported the fact that variables of obesity, having allergy in family story and being exposed to secondhand smoke are risk factors for asthma. Although the physiopathology of low birth weight for asthma is unclear, there are studies that low birth weight relate to childhood wheezing and also the result of our study supports the relationship between low birth weight and asthma. Prophylactic drug use points out uncontrolled asthma patients, and the result of our study supports the impairment of PFT in uncontrolled patients. Key Words: Asthma, obesity, impulse oscillometer