The factors involved in the relation between asthma and obesity

It has been shown that prevalence of asthma and obesity has been increasing in last ten years. Many researchers are recently interested in the pathogenesis of asthma and obesity. In this study we aimed to evaluate the factors involved in the relation between asthma and obesity in adult obese women. Thus, it was aimed to evaluate the influence of obesity on asthma, to determine the role of leptin in the relationship between obesity and asthma and to show the efficacy of leptin in asthma control and inflammation.Forty one obese (21 atopic, 20 nonatopic), and 40 non-obese (20 atopic, 20 nonatopic) asthmatic women were included in the study. Serum leptine levels, FENO (Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide), ACT (Asthma Control Test) and presence atopy were evaluated in these 81 patients. Groups were compared for the relationship of BMI with serum leptine level, FENO and ACT.Serum leptin values were significantly high in obese patients when compared to non-obese patient [median leptin levels in obese and nonobese groups were 22,60 pg/ml (4,80-100,00); 16,70 pg/ml (2,32-92,10) respectively, p:0,05]. In obese group serum leptin levels were positively correlated with FENO levels (r=0,439, p:0,004). 61% of obese patients had ACT<20 where, the ratio was 38% in non-obese patients (p:0,035). ACT scores had a negative but weak correlation with leptin leves (r=0.108, p:0.390). In atopic patients total immunoglobulin E levels were positively correlated with leptine levels (r=0,329, p:0,038,), which can be interpreted as leptin could be partly affected from atopy. When the cases were classified as patients with ACT<20 and ACT?20; between the asthma related comorbidities, as allergic rhinitis, sinüsitis, nasal polip existence and BMI>30, BMI was found to be the only significant factor that contributed to bad asthma control. Moreover, patients who complained of premenstrual asthma had significantly higher levels of leptin when compared to patients who did not [median serum leptine levels in patients who complained of premenstrual asthma and who did not were 47,61 pg/ml (27,94-53,17); 20,39 pg/ml (2,32-100) respectively, p:0,005].As a result, we have shown that the serum leptine levels do have a role in the pathogenesis of asthma and obesity, but it has a limited role in atopy. We can conclude that obesity has an important role in uncontrolled asthma.