Relationship between obesity and asthma among older adults in Thailand

Abstract

This  cross-sectional  study  was  conducted  to  determine  the  prevalence  of  asthma  and  to  describe  the association between asthma and obesity among older adults in the communities of Thailand. The multi-stage cluster sampling was used to draw a sample of 3977 adults aged 50 years and older from six regions. The data collection was conducted between January and March, 2016. A face to face interview with the structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to examine associations between independent variables  and  asthma.

The  results  showed  that  the  prevalence  of  asthma  among  older  adults  in  the  communities  of  Thailand was 2.1%. The association between obesity and asthma among this population was not significantly detected in this study.   However,  asthma  was  found  to  be  significantly  associated  with  types  of  residence  (Adj. OR=2.01,  95%  CI=1.06-3.83),  ischemic  heart  disease  (Adj.  OR=4.31,  95%  CI=1.63-11.42)  and  low  back pain  (Adj. OR=4.38,  95% CI=2.50-7.68)  among  older  adults  after adjusting  for other  factors.

The  health  personnel  should  initiate  a  system  for  searching  asthmatic  patients  in  the  community, especially  in  the  ischemic  heart  disease  or  low  back  pain  patients.  The  relationship  between  obesity  and asthma  among  older  adults  in  Thailand  is  not  clear and  still  needs further studies.