Obesity and poor asthma control in patients with severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a public health problem as it leads to hospitalization and eventual death, particularly in its severe forms. Many studies have demonstrated an association between obesity and asthma. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between obesity and asthma control in a group of patients at a reference center for severe asthma in Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient central reference clinic of the Program for Control of Asthma in the State of Bahia. It included 508 subjects with severe asthma of both genders and above 18 years of age. All the participants answered a sociodemographic and a clinical questionnaire to collect information on their asthma and comorbidities, such as rhinitis and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Participants also completed the Asthma Control Questionnaire, performed a spirometry test, and had their weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences registered. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a positive association between body mass index (BMI) and uncontrolled asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-2.20]. Symptoms of chronic rhinitis and GERD were also significantly associated with uncontrolled asthma (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.50-9.01; and OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.91-4.03, respectively). There was no correlation between waist-to-hip ratios and asthma control. CONCLUSION: In our sample of patients with severe asthma, those who were obese were more likely to have uncontrolled asthma than patients with a normal BMI. Nevertheless, this is not conclusive evidence for a direct causal association between obesity and poor asthma control. Future studies are necessary to dissect the relationship between obesity and asthma outcomes.

Risk of thrombosis and mortality in inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of thrombosis, which is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality. Most data about VTE are related to hospitalized patients with active disease, but several cases happen in the outpatient setting, and are not covered by current prophylaxis recommendation. As the knowledge of VTE in outpatients is still poor, the aim of this study is to evaluate the risk, clinical data and mortality of thrombosis in patients followed in our center, comparing our findings with the current prophylaxis recommendation. METHODS: The medical electronic chart of 1093 inflammatory bowel disease patients and their image exams were actively searched for words related to thrombosis, followed by charts reviewed to collect information about the event and data regarding clinical settings and thrombosis profile. RESULTS: Overall, 654 Crohn's and 439 Colitis patients were included. Thrombosis prevalence was 5.1%,and mortality rate was higher in patients who had suffered thrombosis (10.71% vs. 1.45%, OR 8.0). Half of them developed thrombosis in the outpatient setting, 52% of these had disease activity, 17% had recent hospitalization, and 10% had previous thrombosis. In 27% of cases, diagnosis was done by routine image exams, with no clinical symptoms or previous history of thrombosis. None of them had used thromboprophylaxis. However, a great majority of patients who had thrombosis during hospitalization used heparin prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory bowel disease patients who develop thrombosis have an increased mortality risk. A significant proportion of the events happened in patients without a clear thromboprophylaxis recommendation or in those receiving heparin prophylaxis.