Influence of asthma definition on the asthma-obesity relationship

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest an association between obesity and asthma in adults and children. Asthma diagnosis criteria are different among studies. The aim of this study was to test the influence of asthma definition on the asthma-obesity relationship. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis of 1922 men and women, subjects completed a translated questionnaire from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey and underwent spirometry and a bronchial challenge test. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association of variables related to obesity and asthma. Asthma was defined either by the presence of symptoms with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) or by a self-report of a physician-made diagnosis. The following variables were separately tested for associations with asthma: socioeconomic characteristics, schooling, physical activity, smoking status, anthropometry and spirometry. Results: No association was detected between asthma confirmed by BHR and obesity indicators, odds ratio (OR) = 1.08 (95% confidence interval: 0.69 - 1.68) for obesity assessed by body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2); OR = 1.02 (0.74 - 1.40) for obesity assessed by abnormal waist-to-height ratio; and, OR = 0.96 (0.69 - 1.33) for abnormal waist circumference. On the contrary, a previous diagnosis of asthma was associated with obesity, OR = 1.48 (1.01 - 2.16) for body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2); OR = 1.48 (1.13 - 1.93) for abnormal waist-to-height ratio; and, OR = 1.32 (1.00 - 1.75) for abnormal waist circumference. Female gender, schooling >= 12 years and smoking were associated with BHR-confirmed asthma. Physically inactive subjects were associated with a previous diagnosis of asthma. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the relationship between asthma and obesity in epidemiological studies depends on the definition adopted. Certain components of asthma, for instance, symptoms may be more prone to the obesity influence than other ones, like bronchial hyperresponsiveness.FAPESPFAPES

Ensino do exame respiratório: o que é história e o que é necessidade?

A semiologia é uma das técnicas mais utilizadas na prática médica há séculos. Ensinada por meio de roteiros sistematizados, estudantes de inúmeras escolas da área de saúde por todo o mundo aprendem as manobras semiológicas como fundamento na avaliação dos pacientes. No entanto, apesar de extremamente difundida, discute-se pouco sobre sua acurácia como manobra diagnóstica. Tendo este ponto em vista, este artigo aborda a precisão das diversas manobras semiológicas do exame físico do aparelho respiratório e a descrição comparativa do seu ensino em diferentes escolas médicas no mundo. Como resultados, tem-se valores de acurácia discordantes, o que pode ser justificado pela qualidade dos estudos ou pelas variáveis analisadas que diferem entre os estudos e propostas de padronização. Em conclusão, a semiologia é a base da avaliação médica, independentemente dos avanços e disponibilidade dos exames de imagens, e cada manobra deve ser ensinada com seu devido valor científico. Conhecer a aplicabilidade e individualizar a prática das etapas do exame respiratório pode ser um caminho possível de adequação aos tempos atuais, sem impor perdas de informações relevantes para o desenvolvimento do raciocínio clínico.Medical semiology has been one of the most common techniques used in medical practice for centuries. Health science students around the globe learn these techniques through a systematized model as a fundamental skill for patient evaluation. However, though being widespread, little is known about semiology’s true accuracy as a diagnostic maneuver. Knowing that, through a literature review, this paper evaluated the precision of the preconized procedures that are used as part of the exam of the respiratory system and the comparative description of its teaching in different medical schools around the world. As a result, disagreement between several papers was found, which can be justified by the poor quality of the studies and the different variables that were studied in each one. However, one thing is still clear:  respiratory physical examination continues to be essential in medical practice, independently of the recent advances and availability of imaging exams. Teaching each step should consider available scientific evidence. The knowledge of the applicability and practical individualization of the respiratory examination can be a possible way for the current times without missing relevant information for developing clinical reasoning