Prevalence and severity of asthma in obese adult candidates for bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asthma in a group of obese adult candidates for bariatric surgery and to evaluate the severity of asthma in this group of patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 363 obese adults (body mass index > 35 kg/m²) evaluated by a pulmonologist, using clinical evaluation as a diagnostic tool for asthma. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and spirometry and were divided into two groups (asthma and control). The patients with asthma were stratified by the severity of asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma in the obese population studied was 18.5% (95% CI: 14.5-22.4). That prevalence was 20.4% (95% CI: 16.2-24.5) and 13.7% (95% CI: 10.1-17.2) in the women and the men, respectively. Asthma symptoms in the last twelve months were present in 8.0% (95% CI: 5.2-10.7), and the initial manifestation of asthma symptoms occurred during childhood/adolescence in 17.4% (95% CI: 13.5-21.3). In the asthma group, intermittent asthma was present in 29 patients (43.3%), mild persistent asthma in 7 (10.4%), moderate asthma in 25 patients (37.3%), and severe persistent asthma in 6 (9.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Using clinical evaluation as the diagnostic criterion, we found the prevalence of asthma to be high in this group of obese adults. Asthma was more common in females, and the initial manifestation of asthma symptoms more commonly occurred during childhood/adolescence. The severity of asthma in this group of obese adults was within the range of mean values predicted for the general population. Intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma, and moderate persistent asthma predominated.

Prevalência e gravidade de asma brônquica em adultos obesos com indicação de cirurgia bariátrica / Prevalence and severity of asthma in obese adult candidates for bariatric surgery

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de asma em um grupo de adultos obesos, candidatos a cirurgia bariátrica e avaliar a gravidade da asma neste grupo de pacientes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, envolvendo 363 pacientes obesos adultos (índice de massa corpórea > 35 kg/m²) avaliados por um médico pneumologista, utilizando a avaliação clínica como instrumento diagnóstico de asma. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à avaliação clínica e espirometria e foram divididos em dois grupos (asma e controle). Os pacientes com asma foram classificados conforme a gravidade da doença. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de asma na população de obesos estudada foi de 18,5 por cento (IC95 por cento: 14,5-22,4). Essa prevalência nas mulheres e nos homens foi de 20,4 por cento (IC95 por cento: 16,2-24,5) e 13,7 por cento (IC95 por cento: 10,1-17,2), respectivamente. Havia sintomas de asma nos últimos doze meses em 8,0 por cento (IC95 por cento: 5,2-10,7), e houve manifestação inicial dos sintomas de asma na infância/adolescência em 17,4 por cento (IC95 por cento: 13,5-21,3). No grupo asma, asma intermitente estava presente em 29 pacientes (43,3 por cento); asma persistente leve, em 7 (10,4 por cento); asma moderada, em 25 (37,3 por cento); e asma persistente grave, em 6 (9,0 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de asma neste grupo de adultos obesos, utilizando-se a avaliação clínica como critério diagnóstico, mostrou-se elevada, com predomínio no sexo feminino e com manifestação inicial dos sintomas de asma na infância/adolescência. A gravidade da asma neste grupo de obesos adultos esteve entre os valores médios estimados para a população geral, com uma maior proporção de asma intermitente, asma persistente leve e asma persistente moderada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asthma in a group of obese adult candidates for bariatric surgery and to evaluate the severity of asthma in this group of patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 363 obese adults (body mass index > 35 kg/m²) evaluated by a pulmonologist, using clinical evaluation as a diagnostic tool for asthma. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and spirometry and were divided into two groups (asthma and control). The patients with asthma were stratified by the severity of asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma in the obese population studied was 18.5 percent (95 percent CI: 14.5-22.4). That prevalence was 20.4 percent (95 percent CI: 16.2-24.5) and 13.7 percent (95 percent CI: 10.1-17.2) in the women and the men, respectively. Asthma symptoms in the last twelve months were present in 8.0 percent (95 percent CI: 5.2-10.7), and the initial manifestation of asthma symptoms occurred during childhood/adolescence in 17.4 percent (95 percent CI: 13.5-21.3). In the asthma group, intermittent asthma was present in 29 patients (43.3 percent), mild persistent asthma in 7 (10.4 percent), moderate asthma in 25 patients (37.3 percent), and severe persistent asthma in 6 (9.0 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Using clinical evaluation as the diagnostic criterion, we found the prevalence of asthma to be high in this group of obese adults. Asthma was more common in females, and the initial manifestation of asthma symptoms more commonly occurred during childhood/adolescence. The severity of asthma in this group of obese adults was within the range of mean values predicted for the general population. Intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma, and moderate persistent asthma predominated.