Asthma medication in children who are overweight/obese: justified treatment?

Obesity and asthma are two major public health problems, affecting children and adults [1‐3]. Asthma is diagnosed using a combination of clinical parameters and lung function tests, and treated with β2-agonists and/or Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) [4‐6]. Spirometry is the most used additional lung function test, which can be reliable obtained from the age of 4–6 year [7].

Since the prevalence of asthma and obesity have increased over the last decades, a possible association between these two chronic illnesses is suggested [1‐3, 8, 9]. However, literature is inconsistent on the etiology of this association. It has been suggested that the risk on developing asthmatic symptoms rises with increasing Body mass index (BMI) [1‐3]. In addition, some patients demonstrate asthmatic symptoms which are more difficult-to-control with increasing BMI, suggesting a different phenotype [3, 8, 9]. Moreover, the response to asthma medications might be influenced by BMI [3, 9, 10]. Several causes have been postulated to define the higher prevalence of asthma and the altered response to asthma medication in subjects with an increased BMI. Firstly, a reduction in long volume (i.e. restriction), and a reduction/disturbance in chest wall compliance due to fatty infiltration in the thoracic cage, abdomen, and chest wall are suggested [1, 2, 11, 12]. In addition, due to fat excess in the thoracic compartment there is an increased pulmonary blood volume, leading to impairment of the pulmonary function [1]. Furthermore, on account of an excess of adipose tissue, obesity is characterized by a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, which can result in asthmatic symptoms [1, 12]. Lastly, overdiagnosis of asthma is increasingly suggested as cause for the higher prevalence and differences in asthma medication response, due to an enhanced perception of nonspecific symptoms such as dyspnea [5, 11, 13‐18].

Recently high prevalence of overdiagnosis of asthma in children was reported, in primary healthcare centers in the Netherlands [5, 17]. However, little is known about the prevalence of overdiagnosis and consequently overtreatment of asthma in pediatric populations with overweight/obesity in pediatric outpatient clinics. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overtreatment with asthma medication in a cohort overweight/obese children with asthmatic symptoms visiting a pediatric outpatient clinic.

Figure 1 shows that in total 2453 DBC codes “adiposity” and/or “asthma” were identified and considered for inclusion. For various reasons, 2115 patients were excluded. Of the 338 patients included, 67.5% (228/338) had overweight and 32.5% (110/338) obesity.

Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of the total population with a median age of 8.9 years, and a BMI-sds of 1.99. Asthma medication (short acting β2-agonists and/or ICS) was prescribed in 92.6% (313/338) of the participants, and spirometry was performed in 74.3% (251/338).

Table 2 shows the characteristics of participants according to the categorization of asthma diagnosis. No significant differences were observed between the four subgroups in age, sex, height, weight, BMI-categories, or amount of performed spirometries. By definition, significant differences were observed in clinical diagnosis, positive spirometries, and medication prescribed.

In total 32% (108/338) of the participants were classified as no asthma or unlikely asthma. In this group asthma medication was prescribed in 85.2% (92/108) of the participants. ICS was prescribed 32.6% (30/92). According to the used definition 27.2% (92/338) overtreatment with asthma medication was observed in this cohort. Of the 68.0% (230/338) participants classified as probable or confirmed asthma, asthma medication was prescribed in 96.1% (221/230). However, in 3.9% (9/230) of the participants with probable or confirmed asthma no asthma medication was prescribed and were therefore by definition undertreated. Participants with probable or confirmed asthma had in most cases a clinical diagnosed asthma (97.4%; 224/230). Spirometry confirmed asthma was observed in 17.4 (40/230). Six (15%) participants with positive spirometry did not have a clinical diagnosis.

The prevalence of asthmatic symptoms and consequently the use of asthma medication rises with increasing BMI [1‐3, 8, 9]. Several causes for this higher prevalence of asthma in patients with obesity have been postulated, such as lower vital capacity and restrictive lung function patterns, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, and overdiagnosis [5, 11, 13‐18]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overtreatment with asthma medication in overweight/obese children at a pediatric outpatient clinic.

In this study in more than 25% of the children with overweight/obesity asthma medication was prescribed without a confirmed or probable diagnosis of asthma. Overtreatment is consequently the result of overdiagnosis. In literature high prevalence of overdiagnosis and thereby overtreatment has been reported in both non-obese and obese adults, and children [5, 13, 17]. Two recent studies performed in primary healthcare centers in the Netherlands, reassessed whether the asthma diagnosis in children was given correctly and whether pharmacological asthma therapy was indicated [5, 17]. Both studies evaluated the validity of registered asthma diagnosis based on information on asthma-related characteristics reported in medical files such as (episodic) wheezing, dyspnea, cough, family history for atopic diseases, sensitivity for non-specific irritants, allergy test, and reversibility in pulmonary function test [5, 17]. Based on an algorithm of combination of symptoms, Pauwelse classified patients into probable asthma, unlikely asthma, and insufficient data for the diagnose asthma [5, 17]. Looijmans classified patients as confirmed, probable, unlikely, and no asthma [5, 17]. In addition, it was documented which asthma characteristics were most frequently reported to support the diagnosis asthma [5, 17]. They showed a prevalence of overdiagnosis and thereby overtreatment up to 53.2% [5, 17]. Erroneous asthma diagnosis occurred significantly more often in children before the age of 6 years, in which the diagnosis was in most cases exclusively based on one or two episodes of wheezing and/or dyspnea [17]. This underlines the need for regularly reassessment of the diagnosis in children, especially since it is suggested that asthmatic symptoms may decrease with increasing age [13]. In a community based study in children from Toronto Canada a high prevalence of asthma overdiagnosis was observed as well [26]. Only 53% of the children with a clinical diagnosis asthma fulfilled the criteria to confirm the diagnosis asthma (i.e affirmative clinical diagnosis by asthma expert physician and observed reversible airway obstruction) [26]. Since this number is in concordance with the results in primary care health centers from the Netherlands, we assume that the prevalence of asthma diagnosis in children in other countries will be comparable. Also in adults, high prevalence of overdiagnosis has been observed in individuals with and without obesity (31.8 vs. 28.7%) [13]. The suggestion that the association between asthma and obesity is caused by enhanced perception of “asthmatic” symptoms could not be confirmed in that study, since no difference between obese and non-obese individuals was observed [13]. We did not observe any differences in prevalence of overtreatment between children with overweight and obesity, possibly because differences in BMI-sds were too small. However, since we only included patients with overweight/obesity no pronunciations can be made whether there are differences in overtreatment between children with overweight/obesity in comparison with children with normal weight. The prevalence of overtreatment observed in the current study corresponds with the adult study [13], but is lower than that of the studies performed in the general practice [5, 17], which might be caused by differences in study design and population. Our population was recruited from a pediatric outpatient clinic, a referral center for patients from primary health care centers with more severe or therapy resistant asthma. This explains the high prevalence (> 90%) of asthma medication prescribed and thereby less undertreatment. In addition, we evaluated the diagnosis of asthma after the first visit at the pediatric outpatient clinic, in contrast with the studies performed in the primary healthcare centers, and our population was younger (8.9 vs. 10.7 years). Hereby a possible decrease of asthmatic symptoms over the years could not be take into account, causing possibly a relative underestimation of overtreatment in our population. In this study the diagnosis of asthma was not re-evaluated. Re-evaluation of patients enrolled at 4–6 years of age might have been of added value, since the diagnosis at this age might be influenced by subjective assessment by the attending physician and may have led to bias. Since the diagnosis asthma was only evaluated after the first visit at the pediatric outpatient clinic, the final diagnosis of patients classified as unlikely or no asthma were not studied. However, several theories why overtreatment may be more prevalent in populations with overweight/obesity are postulated, which could also apply to our population. Subjects with overweight/obesity might report asthma-like symptoms, which could be caused by a poor physical condition, or due to effort limitation caused by the overweight/obesity itself [13, 18]. In addition, reduced chest wall compliance, due to fat infiltration, results in reduced lung volumes and increased work of breathing and increased energy and oxygen cost of breathing [13]. This could all mimic true asthmatic symptoms, whereby a clinical diagnosis asthma is made more easily.

There are obvious consequences associated with overdiagnosing asthma. This includes the lost opportunity to investigate and/or treat the true cause of respiratory symptoms properly, potential exposure to adverse effects of asthma medications [27], the cost of asthma medications, and the social consequences and psychological impact being labeled with a chronic respiratory disease [13]. In children the diagnosis is mainly based on clinical parameters and treatment is frequently started on an empirical basis, although additional lung function tests are recommended [4, 27, 28]. This was also observed in the current study, since 97.4% of the participants diagnosis asthma was based on clinical parameters, and only 17.4% confirmed by spirometry. A recent study showed that in adults with morbid obesity the use of additional lung function test is necessary to confirm or to exclude the diagnosis asthma, due to prevalence of asthma-like symptoms [18]. The use of additional lung function test in children with overweight/obesity seems therefore useful to give an accurate diagnosis and to prevent overdiagnosis and thereby overtreatment with asthma medication. Moreover, regular reassessment of the diagnosis in children seems warranted since asthma can change over time and be outgrown. On the other hand, undertreatment could even be more harmful, since it might increase the risk on asthma exacerbations, decrease quality of life and limit children’s exercise capacity due to asthma symptoms during exercise and sports. In our population nine participants had a probable or confirmed asthma, but no prescription for asthma medication. Since it is known that asthma also may interfere with exercise, it is of great importance to optimize asthma treatment in those with overweight/obesity and true asthma.

The FEV1/FVC ratio (Tiffaneau index), commonly used in adults to diagnose asthma, changes with age and is therefore a less reliable value in children [6, 24, 29]. In young children this ratio can be as high as 0.96, so use of the commonly used fixed ratio of 70% will substantially underestimate airflow limitation [4, 6, 24, 29]. To confirm the diagnosis asthma through spirometry, we therefore defined reversible airflow obstruction as an increase of percentage predicted FEV1 of ≥12% [4‐6, 25]. However, a substantial part of children with asthma, do not meet the criteria of ≥12% reversibility, nor have signs of airflow limitation [4]. Therefore, asthma guidelines advise to use both clinical symptoms and additional lung function tests to ensure an accurate diagnosis, taking the variable expression of asthmatic symptoms into account [4, 6, 25]. However, in patients with obesity an enhanced perception of nonspecific symptoms such as dyspnea and decreased exercise performance are reported, which may easily lead to overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment, especially when clinical symptoms predominate as the basis for the diagnosis [11, 13‐16].

More than 25% overtreatment with asthma medication was observed in a cohort overweight/obese children with asthmatic symptoms. This emphasizes that the diagnosis of asthma must be confirmed before commencement of medication. The diagnosis of asthma should be based on standard questionnaires evaluating asthmatic symptoms, lung functions test and regular reassessments. Further studies concerning overtreatment with asthma medication in normal weight pediatric populations are warranted, to evaluate whether overtreatment is specific for overweight/obese children.