Impaired glucose metabolism and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in obese prepubertal asthmatic children.

The prevalence of asthma and obesity has risen in parallel over the last decades, but the exact mechanisms linking these two diseases still remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), impaired glucose metabolism, obesity, and asthma in prepubertal children.

A total of 71 prepubertal children were included in the study and divided in four groups according to the presence of asthma and their Body Mass Index (BMI): Group 1-Healthy Controls (HC), Group 2-Non Obese Asthmatics (NOA), Group 3-Obese Non Asthmatics (ONA), Group 4-Obese Asthmatics (OA) Αll children underwent spirometry and bronchial hyperresponsiveness testing by using the cumulative Provoking Dose of mannitol (PD15, primary study variable); homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated in order to evaluate insulin resistance. Obese children also underwent an oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT).

A statistically significant difference in bronchial hyperreactivity (mean ± SD) was detected in the group of obese asthmatic children who had lower values ​​of PD15 , (174.16 ± 126.42) as compared to normal weight asthmatic children (453.93 ± 110.27), (P < 0.001). Moreover, obese asthmatic children with confirmed insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥2.5), had significantly lower PD15 values (89.05 ± 42.75) as ​​compared to those with HOMA-IR <2.5 (259.27 ± 125.75), (P = 0.006). Finally, obese asthmatic children with impaired OGTT had likewise significantly lower PD15 (81.02 ± 42.16) measurements as compared to children with normal OGTT (267.3 ± 112.62), (P = 0.001).

Our findings suggest that obesity per se does not correlate to airway hyperreactivity unless it is accompanied by glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:160-166. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.