Elevated Childhood Insulin-related Asthma Is a Risk Factor for Reduced Lung Function

Asthma and obesity are common chronic conditions, and although they often coexist, the exact relationship between the two is not fully understood. Recent studies suggest that obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance may all affect lung function in patients with asthma. Being overweight or obese in children without asthma was linked to disproportionate growth between lung size and airway caliber, which is characteristic of obstructive airway diseases. Adolescents with both asthma and metabolic syndrome had more airflow obstruction than those with either condition alone. Adult patients with asthma and insulin resistance had lower lung function and reduced response to medication, and were more likely to experience a decline in lung function over time. The origins of these associations are not yet clear.