THE EFFECT OF ABDOMINAL OBESITY AND EXTERNAL RESPIRATION FUNCTION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Objective of the study: to study the relationship of the ratio «abdominal circumference/height» as a marker of abdominal obesity with spirometric parameters reflecting bronchial patency in children and adolescents with bronchial asthma (BA). Materials and methods of research: a pilot prospective non-randomized single-center comparative study of 167 children aged 12.0 [9.0; 14.0] years with atopic BA. All children underwent spirometry and anthropometry, which included measuring abdomen circumference (AC) and calculating the ratio of AC/height. If this ratio is exceeding above the 90th percentile, it is assumed that the patient has abdominal type of obesity. Results: the AC index/height above the 90th percentile was statistically significantly more common in patients with reduced/normal body weight (8.3%) compared with patients with increased body weight and/or obesity (77.6%, p<0.0001). Statistically significant positive correlations of the ratio AC/height with the forced vital capacity of the lungs (FVC, R=0.29, p=0.002) and negative with spirometric parameters reflecting bronchial patency, including the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second/FVC (R=–0.24 at p=0.002), the average volumetric rate of expiratory flow in the 25–75% section of the flow-volume loop (R=–0.21 at p=0.007) were established, the maximum volumetric velocity of the expiratory flow at the point of 25% of the flow-volume loop (R=–0.29 at p=0.0002). Conclusion: abdominal obesity in children with BA is accompanied by an increase in lung volume and a decrease in bronchial patency with the formation of an obstructive breathing pattern. © 2022, Pediatria Ltd.. All rights reserved.