Open AccessObesity disproportionately impacts lung volumes, airflow and exhaled nitric oxide in children
Author(s) -
TsungChieh Yao,
HuiJu Tsai,
Shih-Liang Chang,
RenHua Chung,
Jing-Ya Hsu,
MingHan Tsai,
SuiLing Liao,
MauSun Hua,
ShenHao Lai,
LiChen Chen,
KuoWei Yeh,
Yung Zu Tseng,
Wan-Chen Lin,
Su-Ching Chang,
JingLong Huang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0174691
Subject(s) - exhaled nitric oxide , medicine , vital capacity , atopy , overweight , body mass index , asthma , obesity , exhalation , childhood obesity , pulmonary function testing , spirometry , lung function , gastroenterology , lung , anesthesia , diffusing capacity
Background The current literature focusing on the effect of obesity and overweight on lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in children, particularly among healthy children of non-European descent, remains controversial. Furthermore, whether the relationship of obesity and overweight with lung function and FeNO in children is modified by atopy is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of excess weight on lung function parameters and FeNO among Asian children, with a particular focus on exploring the potential effect modification by atopy. Methods We investigated the effect of excess weight on lung function and FeNO in a population sample of 1,717 children aged 5 to 18 years and explored the potential modifying effect of atopy. Results There were positive associations of body mass index (BMI) z-score with forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% (FEF 25-75 ) (all P <0.001), after controlling for confounders. The beta coefficient for FEV 1 (0.084) was smaller than that for FVC (0.111). In contrast, a negative association was found between BMI z-score and FEV 1 /FVC ratio ( P <0.001) and FeNO ( P = 0.03). A consistent pattern of association for lung function variables was observed when stratifying by atopy. There was a negative association of BMI z-score with FeNO in atopic subjects ( P = 0.006), but not in non-atopic subjects ( P = 0.46). Conclusions Excess weight disproportionately impacts lung volumes and airflow in children from the general population, independent of atopic status. Excess weight inversely affects FeNO in atopic but not in non-atopic children.