SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008 5/12/2008 The Effect of Obesity on Airway Function in Women with Asthma Summary The authors evaluated 30 female patients with asthma. They compared the pulmonary function changes induced by methacholine inhalation. The dose of methacholine was sufficient to cause a reduction of FEV1 of 30%. They found that body mass index was independently associated with changes in lung volume after adjustment for baseline airway caliber and hyperresponsiveness. Obese women demonstrated significantly increased functional residual capacity and decreased inspiratory capacity. Based upon these observations, they concluded that changes in respiratory function are greater in obese individuals who experience bronchospasm. This could potentially alter the perception and assessment of asthma severity in obese patients. Reference Sutherland TJ, et al. Dynamic hyperinflation with bronchoconstriction: differences between obese and non-obese women with asthma. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2008; 177:970-975.   © Copyright 1997-2008 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology All rights reserved