| Autor: |
Fuller-Thomson E; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Department of Family and Community Medicine, Director, Institute of Life Course & Aging, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1., Howden KEN; McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, 1280 Main Street West, Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery, Hamilton, Canada ON L8S 4K1., Fuller-Thomson LR; Institute of Life Course & Aging, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor St. W., Room 238, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1V4., Agbeyaka S; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and University Health Network, 246 Bloor St. W., Room 238, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1V4. |
| Abstrakt: |
Factors associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among never-smokers have received little research attention. One potential risk factor for COPD is obesity, which is of particular importance in light of the global obesity epidemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between COPD and levels of obesity in a nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic white never-smokers. Data were drawn from the 2012 Center for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Pearson's chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted in a large nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic white respondents aged 50 and over (76,004 women; 37,618 men) who reported that they had never smoked. A dose-response relationship was observed for both men and women: the prevalence of COPD increased from 2.5% in men and 3.5% in women who were of a healthy weight (BMI < 25) to 7.6% in men and 13.4% in women who had a BMI of 40 or higher. Even after adjusting for 7 potential confounds (e.g., age, education, and income), the odds of COPD were 3.21 higher for men (95% CI = 2.46, 4.20) and 4.00 higher for women with class III obesity (95% CI = 3.52, 4.55) in comparison with those of healthy weight. Regular screening for COPD is warranted in never-smoking obese patients who are aged 50 and over. Future research is needed to investigate plausible mechanisms for this association, including (1) the role of chronic inflammation associated with obesity and (2) the impact of central obesity on respiratory system mechanics. |
