OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the degree of obesity or overweight measured by the body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents with asthma and the clinical and functional severity of the disease and the intensity of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). METHODS: 20 patients (age range: 6-18 years) with persistent asthma, with overweight or obesity, were submitted to a standardized exercise test on an ergometric bicycle, followed by serial evaluations of spirometric parameters performed at 3, 6, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after the exercise. EIB was defined as a decrease in FEV1>10% and/or FEF25-75% >26% when compared to pre-test values. The positivity of the test was evaluated as the highest decreases in FEV1 and FEF25-75% after the end of the exercise. RESULTS: Asthma severity was considered mild, moderate and severe in ten, five and five patients, respectively. EIB was observed in 50% of the studied children. There was no significant correlation among the following parameters: BMI and basal FEV1 and FEF25-75% in relation to the predicted value; BMI and the highest decrease in FEV1 and FEF25-75% in relation to the basal levels; BMI and asthma severity. The best correlation was obtained between BMI and the highest decreases in FEF25-75% in relation to basal levels. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI did not influence the degree of exercise-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in overweight and obese children and adolescents with asthma as well as the degree of basal obstruction measured by FEV1 and FEF25-75%.
obesity; asthma; asthma; exercise-induced; bronchial hyperreactivity
