Association between abdominal and general obesity and respiratory symptoms, asthma and COPD. Results from the RHINE study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies on the association between abdominal and general obesity and respiratory disease have provided conflicting results.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the associations of abdominal obesity with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease independently from general obesity in women and men.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III questionnaire (n = 12 290) conducted in 2010-2012. Abdominal obesity was self-measured waist circumference using a sex-specific standard cut-off point: ≥102 cm in males and ≥88 cm in females. General obesity was defined as self-reported BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2 .

RESULTS: There were 4261 subjects (63% women) with abdominal obesity and 1837 subjects (50% women) with general obesity. Both abdominal and general obesity was independent of each other and associated with respiratory symptoms (odds ratio (OR) from 1.25 to 2.00)). Asthma was significantly associated with abdominal and general obesity in women, OR (95% CI) 1.56 (1.30-1.87) and 1.95 (1.56-2.43), respectively, but not in men, OR 1.22 (0.97-3.17) and 1.28 (0.97-1.68) respectively. A similar sex difference was found for self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

CONCLUSIONS: General and abdominal obesity were independent factors associated with respiratory symptoms in adults. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently linked to abdominal and general obesity in women but not men.