Vol 80, No 5 (2012)
Review paper
Published online: 2012-08-27
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Bronchial asthma in obesity — a distinct phenotype of asthma?
Dariusz Ziora, Piotr Sitek, Edyta Machura, Katarzyna Ziora
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2012;80(5):454-462.
Vol 80, No 5 (2012)
REVIEWS
Published online: 2012-08-27
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Abstract
Asthma and obesity have a considerable impact on public health and their prevalence has increased in recent years.
Numerous large cross-sectional and prospective studies performed in adults, adolescents, and children throughout the world
supports the hypothesis that obesity is an independent risk factor for asthma. The pathogenetic basis for asthma and obesity
associations in humans is not well established. Obesity is capable of reducing pulmonary compliance, lung volumes, and the
diameter of peripheral respiratory airways, and may influence on airway hyperresponsiveness. The increase of adipose
tissue in obese subjects leads to a systemic inflammatory state, which produces a rise in the serum concentrations of
several pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and adipokines. The proinflammatory adipokines (leptin, resistin) and antiinflammatory
(adiponectin) may be causally associated with asthma, however human studies are inconclusive. Obese
asthma patients very often demonstrate increased asthma severity and relative corticosteroid resistance. Some studies
suggest improvements in the disease with weight loss in obese asthma patients. Recently published data suggest that
obese asthma patients may represent a distinct phenotype of asthma.
Abstract
Asthma and obesity have a considerable impact on public health and their prevalence has increased in recent years.
Numerous large cross-sectional and prospective studies performed in adults, adolescents, and children throughout the world
supports the hypothesis that obesity is an independent risk factor for asthma. The pathogenetic basis for asthma and obesity
associations in humans is not well established. Obesity is capable of reducing pulmonary compliance, lung volumes, and the
diameter of peripheral respiratory airways, and may influence on airway hyperresponsiveness. The increase of adipose
tissue in obese subjects leads to a systemic inflammatory state, which produces a rise in the serum concentrations of
several pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and adipokines. The proinflammatory adipokines (leptin, resistin) and antiinflammatory
(adiponectin) may be causally associated with asthma, however human studies are inconclusive. Obese
asthma patients very often demonstrate increased asthma severity and relative corticosteroid resistance. Some studies
suggest improvements in the disease with weight loss in obese asthma patients. Recently published data suggest that
obese asthma patients may represent a distinct phenotype of asthma.
Keywords
bronchial asthma; obesity; adipokines
Title
Bronchial asthma in obesity — a distinct phenotype of asthma?
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Vol 80, No 5 (2012)
Article type
Review paper
Pages
454-462
Published online
2012-08-27
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2012;80(5):454-462.
Keywords
bronchial asthma
obesity
adipokines
Authors
Dariusz Ziora
Piotr Sitek
Edyta Machura
Katarzyna Ziora