Zarqa Ali

Asthma and obesity: does weight loss improve asthma control? a systematic review

Aim and methods Obesity is a major health problem, and obesity is associated with a high incidence of asthma and poor asthma control. The aim of the present paper is to systematically review the current knowledge of the effect on overall asthma control of weight reduction in overweight and obese adults with asthma. Results Weight loss in obese individuals with doctor-diagnosed asthma is associated with a 48%–100% remission of asthma symptoms and use of asthma medication. Published studies, furthermore, reveal that weight loss in obese asthmatics improves asthma control, and that especially surgically induced weight loss results in significant improvements in asthma severity, use of asthma medication, dyspnoea, exercise tolerance, and acute exacerbations, including hospitalizations due to asthma. Furthermore, weight loss in obese asthmatics is associated with improvements in level of lung function and airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine, whereas no significant improvements have been observed in exhaled nitric oxide or other markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Conclusion Overweight and obese adults with asthma experience a high symptomatic remission rate and significant improvements in asthma control, including objective measures of disease activity, after weight loss. Although these positive effects of weight loss on asthma-related health outcomes seem not to be accompanied by remission or improvements in markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation, it has potentially important implications for the future burden of asthma.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a review

IntroductionThe prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), one of the most frequently occurring complications following preterm birth, is increasing due to increased survival of preterm infants.MethodsSystematic literature review.Conclusion The etiology is multifactorial, with prematurity being a prerequisite for the development of BPD. Over time, there have been many different and new treatment modalities, some of them have reduced the severity of the disease, but none of them have been able to impact upon the increasing incidence of BPD.

Original ResearchAsthmaLong-term Mortality Among Adults With Asthma: A 25-Year Follow-up of 1,075 Outpatients With Asthma

BACKGROUND Data from long-term follow-up studies of patients with well-characterized asthma are limited. We studied all-cause and cause-specific mortality and risk factors in a large cohort of adults with asthma. METHODS A total of 1,075 adult patients with asthma were recruited consecutively from an outpatient clinic from 1974 to 1990 and followed up until the end of 2011. Subjects were classified as having allergic or nonallergic asthma on the basis of a detailed history, spirometric tests, tests for IgE-mediated allergy (skin prick tests and radioallergosorbent test), and bronchial challenge tests. Information on vital status and cause of death were obtained from the Danish Death Register and the Danish National Board of Health. All-cause mortality was also studied in an age- and sex-matched group of subjects without asthma. RESULTS All-cause mortality was increased significantly among patients with asthma compared with control subjects (261 cases vs 124 control subjects; relative risk (RR), 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.0; P < .001). The excess mortality was primarily due to death from obstructive lung disease (95 deaths). Subsequent death from asthma was significantly associated with age (P < .001), level of FEV₁% predicted (P < .001), bronchodilator reversibility (P < .01), peripheral eosinophil count (P < .0001), and previous acute hospital contacts for asthma (P = .002) at enrollment. No significant association was found between smoking habits or self-reported symptom severity, and subsequent death from asthma. After adjusting for age and level of FEV₁% predicted, nonallergic asthma was associated with a higher risk of death from asthma (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2; P = .001). CONCLUSION This 25-year prospective study of a large cohort of adults with well-characterized asthma showed an excess mortality compared with matched control subjects, to a large extent explained by death from obstructive lung disease.

Incidence and risk factors for exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy

Background Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among pregnant women. Acute exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy have an unfavorable impact on pregnancy outcome. This review provides an overview of current knowledge of incidence, mechanisms, and risk factors for acute exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy. Methods A narrative literature review was carried out using the PubMed database. Results During pregnancy, up to 6% of women with asthma are hospitalized for an acute exacerbation. The maternal immune system is characterized by a very high T-helper-2:T-helper-1 cytokine ratio during pregnancy and thereby provides an environment essential for fetal survival but one that may aggravate asthma. Cells of the innate immune system such as monocytes and neutrophils are also increased during pregnancy, and this too can exacerbate maternal asthma. Severe or difficult-to-control asthma appears to be the major risk factor for exacerbations during pregnancy, but studies also suggest that nonadherence with controller medication and viral infections are important triggers of exacerbations during pregnancy. So far, inconsistent findings have been reported regarding the effect of fetal sex on exacerbations during pregnancy. Other risk factors for exacerbation during pregnancy include obesity, ethnicity, and reflux, whereas atopy does not appear to be a risk factor. Discussion The incidence of asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is disturbingly high. Severe asthma – better described as difficult-to-control asthma – nonadherence with controller therapy, viral infections, obesity, and ethnicity are likely to be important risk factors for exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy, whereas inconsistent findings have been reported with regard to the importance of sex of the fetus.

Excessive gestational weight gain in first trimester is a risk factor for exacerbation of asthma during pregnancy: A prospective study of 1283 pregnancies

Background: Acute exacerbation during pregnancy is the most important risk factor for an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy in women with asthma. Objective: We sought to identify pregnancy‐related risk factors for acute exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy. Methods: Since 2007, all pregnant women referred to give birth at Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark, have been offered participation in the prospective Management of Asthma during Pregnancy (MAP) program. Women were included in the present analysis if they fulfilled the following criteria: (1) diagnosed with asthma, (2) prescribed at least rescue bronchodilator, and (3) had the first visit to the respiratory outpatient clinic within the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models with backward stepwise elimination (Proc Logistic procedure in SAS). Results: Over an 8‐year study period, a total of 1283 pregnancies in 1208 women fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the MAP cohort. Women with asthma exacerbation(s) had larger gestational weight gain (GWG) in the first trimester of pregnancy (P < .001) and increased total GWG (P < .001) compared with women without exacerbation. More than 5 kg first‐trimester weight gain was associated with an increased risk of asthma exacerbation (odds ratio, 9.35; 95% CI, 6.39‐13.68; P < .001), and the risk increased in a dose‐dependent manner with additional weight gain in excess of 5 kg. Conclusions: Excessive GWG in the first trimester is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and the risk increases in a dose‐dependent manner with increasing GWG. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available.

Exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy: Impact on pregnancy complications and outcome

Asthma is common among pregnant women, and the incidence of asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is high. This literature review provides an overview of the impact of exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy on pregnancy-related complications. The majority of published retrospective studies reveal that asthma exacerbations during pregnancy increase the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental abruption and placenta praevia. Furthermore, these women also have higher risk for breech presentation, haemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, caesarean delivery, maternal admission to the intensive care unit and longer postpartum hospital stay. Asthma has been associated with increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, small-for-gestational age, low birth weight, infant hypoglycaemia and preterm birth, but more recent prospective studies have not revealed significant associations with regard to these outcomes. In conclusion, asthma exacerbations during pregnancy are associated with complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery. Prevention of exacerbations is essential to reduce the risk of complications and poor outcome.

Determinants of low risk of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy

Assessment of asthma control every 4‐6 weeks during pregnancy is recommended to reduce risk of exacerbation, and by that improve outcome.

Association between Atopic Dermatitis and the Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Atopic dermatitis (AD) may be associated with the metabolic syndrome and by that carry an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to provide an update on current knowledge of the association between AD and metabolic syndrome, including each component of the metabolic syndrome. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies investigating the association between metabolic syndrome and AD from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 14 studies, investigating the association between AD and the metabolic syndrome or AD and components of metabolic syndrome fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included. It seems unlikely that the association between AD and metabolic syndrome is causal. However, women with AD tended to have components of metabolic syndrome more often than women without AD. There was a positive association between AD and central obesity measured as waist circumference, and this association was stronger for women than men. Despite conflicting results regarding hypertension, the association between hypertension and AD also appeared stronger for women. On the other hand, the association between AD and hyperglycemia appears unlikely, and the association between AD and cholesterol levels was inconsistent. In conclusion, it remains unclear whether AD is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and its components. However, data indicate that central obesity is associated with AD and that the association is stronger for women than men.

Postpartum airway responsiveness and exacerbation of asthma during pregnancy – a pilot study

Background Airway responsiveness and inflammation are associated with the clinical manifestations of asthma and the response to pharmacological therapy. Objective To investigate if airway responsiveness and inflammatory characteristics are related to asthma exacerbations during pregnancy. Materials and methods In women with asthma who were prescribed controller medication and monitored closely during pregnancy, the risk of exacerbations was analyzed in relation to postpartum measures of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), skin prick test reactivity, static and dynamic lung volumes, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, bronchial responsiveness to inhaled mannitol, and inflammatory characteristics in induced sputum. Obtained data were analyzed in relation to exacerbation status during pregnancy. The PD15 is defined as the cumulative administered dose causing a 15% decline in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1). Results Fifty women (mean age ± standard deviation of 32±5 years) were enrolled over an 11-month period and examined on average 4 months postpartum. During pregnancy, 13 women had a total of 16 exacerbations (8 mild and 8 severe). Women with asthma exacerbation during pregnancy had more pronounced airway responsiveness to inhaled mannitol (geometric mean PD15 82 vs 171 mg, p=0.04) and were less likely to be atopic (62% vs 86%, respectively; p=0.04) than the non-exacerbators. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups of women with regard to type of airway inflammation in sputum and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO). Conclusion More pronounced airway hyperresponsiveness together with nonatopic status appears to characterize women at high risk of exacerbation of asthma during pregnancy.