Weighing asthma with inflammatory markers

Investigators may have uncovered factors that could influence the likelihood of asthma among women.

In a study published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine, the investigators used data from the 2009 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess the relationship between obesity measures, complete blood counts and reproductive history and asthma among more than 3,700 women.

The investigators identified increases in body mass index, body roundness index and white blood cell counts as factors contributing to the risk of self-reported asthma. White blood cell counts — biomarkers of systemic inflammation — were found to partially explain the link between obesity measures and asthma.

The results of the study could elucidate the inflammatory processes underlying asthma in female patients with obesity.

Read more: BMC Pulmonary Medicine

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