Controlling Metabolic Syndrome Improves Asthma Symptoms, claims study
Asthma is a major global health issue that burdens people from all regions of the world. It was estimated that 334 million patients are suffering from asthma globally. A recent study published in the journal Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets suggests that asthma is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), and controlling MetS might improve asthma symptoms.
MetS are characterized as a syndrome in which three of the following symptoms exist: disturbed fasting glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, obesity and hypertension. Also, increased risk of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes have a direct link with MetS. Hepatic failure, sleep apnea and chronic inflammatory states are also common clinical signs of MetS. Recent studies have shown the association between metabolic syndrome and deterioration of lung functions in patients with asthma. Researchers of the Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, conducted a study that adds evidence for this association.
It was a prospective, randomized, cross-sectional study of 160 asthmatic patients in the Razi hospital f Guilan province. Researchers randomly assigned them into 2groups, 80 patients each. The case group involved an asthmatic patient with metabolic syndrome and, the control group involved an asthmatic patient without metabolic syndrome. Researchers evaluated the blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumferences, fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles. They determined the asthma criteria based on clinical symptoms and GINA criteria. They performed spirometry to evaluate pulmonary function parameters
Key findings of the study were:
• Upon evaluation, they found that the Pulmonary function test including FEF, FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group.
• Additionally, they found a significant negative correlation between waist circumference, cardiovascular risk factors (including diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension) with spirometric indices.
The authors concluded, "Metabolic syndrome causes major declines of pulmonary parameters in asthma patients, thus controlling metabolic syndrome might improve symptoms of asthma."
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