Effect of body mass index on quality of life in allergic/asthmatic patients

Abstract

Evaluation of quality of life (QoL) is of particular interest in patients suffering from chronic diseases. Although studies have shown an association between QoL and obesity and allergy/asthma, the effect of obesity on QoL is not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) as a contributory factor on QoL in patients with a diagnostic label of allergy/asthma. We surveyed 100 patients (69 F/31 M) (age 34.15 +/- 13.32 years), and 65 healthy controls (42 F/23 M) (age 35.45 +/- 8.96 years). QoL was determined by SF-36. BMI >= 25 kg/m(2) was accepted as overweight/obesity. Forty-five percent of the patients had BMI >= 25 kg/m(2) with no difference between the genders. They were significantly older and more likely to have less education level than those with BMI < 25 kg/m(2). Quality-of-life scores among patients with allergy/asthma were lower than those in the control group, irrespective of BMI. However, increased BMI was found to be related with improved quality of life among controls. Pearson's analysis showed that BMI was inversely correlated with physical functioning among patients (r = -0.229, p = 0.034), but in the control group it was positively correlated with QoL. All the domains of SF-36, except role-physical ones, among female subjects were significantly impaired more than those of male patients. It has been shown that the major determinants of impaired QoL are female sex, older age, and less educational status in patients with allergic/asthmatic symptoms. The impact of BMI on QoL could be undermined, because it seems to play a minor role.