An Overview of the Obese-Asthma Phenotype in Children

Valentina Fainardi, Lucrezia Passadore, Marialuisa Labate, Giovanna Pisi and Susanna Esposito
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Valentina Fainardi: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Lucrezia Passadore: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Marialuisa Labate: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Giovanna Pisi: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Susanna Esposito: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Overweight and obesity are included among the comorbidities considered in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma, suggesting a specific phenotype of the disease. Therefore, the constant increase in obesity prevalence in children and adolescents raises concerns about the parallel increase of obesity-associated asthma. The possible correlation between obesity and asthma has been investigated over the last decade by different authors, who suggest a complex multifactorial relationship. Although the particular non-eosinophilic endotype of obesity-related asthma supports the concept that high body weight precedes asthma development, there is ongoing debate about the direct causality of these two entities. A number of mechanisms may be involved in asthma in combination with obesity disease in children, including reduced physical activity, abnormal ventilation, chronic systemic inflammation, hormonal influences, genetics and additional comorbidities, such as gastroesophageal reflux and dysfunctional breathing. The identification of the obesity-related asthma phenotype is crucial to initiate specific therapeutic management. Besides the cornerstones of asthma treatment, lifestyle should be optimized, with interventions aiming to promote physical exercise, healthy diet, and comorbidities. Future studies should clarify the exact association between asthma and obesity and the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these two related conditions with the aim to define personalized therapeutic strategies for asthma management in this population.

Keywords: asthma; children; gastroesophageal reflux; obesity; OSA; overweight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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