Trajectories of Adiposity Indicators and Association with Asthma and Lung Function in Urban Minority Children.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nA relationship between adiposity and asthma has been described in some cohort studies, yet little is known about trajectories of adiposity throughout early childhood among children at high-risk for developing asthma in urban United States cities. Moreover, early life trajectories of adipokines that have metabolic and immunologic properties have not been comprehensively investigated.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nOur objective was to characterize trajectories of adiposity in a longitudinal birth cohort of predominately Black and Latinx children (n=418) using several different repeated measures including body mass index (BMI) z-score, bio-impedance analysis (BIA), leptin and adiponectin in the first 10 years of life.\n\n\nMETHODS\nIn a longitudinal birth cohort of predominately Black and Latinx children we used repeated annual measures of BMI, BIA (i.e. percent body fat), leptin, and adiponectin to create trajectories across the first 10 years of life. Across those trajectories we compared asthma diagnosis and multiple lung function outcomes including spirometry, impulse oscillometry and methacholine response.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThree trajectories were observed for BMI z-score, BIA, and leptin and 2 for adiponectin. There was no association between trajectories of BMI, percent body fat, leptin or adipokine and asthma diagnosis or lung function (p>0.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nOur findings demonstrate that trajectories of adiposity were not associated with asthma or lung function in children at high-risk for developing asthma. Risk factors related to geography, social and demographic factors that are unique to specific populations could explain the lack of association and should be considered in obesity and asthma studies.