Case-control study, 2016
Does body weight affect whether asthma gets worse around a woman's period?
Yes, in this small study women whose asthma flared up around their period had a higher BMI than women with asthma without that pattern, or healthy women. A type of white blood cell called eosinophils did not explain the flare-ups.
What they did
30 women were split into three small groups: women with asthma that got worse around their period (perimenstrual asthma), women with asthma but no period-related pattern, and healthy women without asthma. All had breathing tests (spirometry), symptom questionnaires, and blood cell counts.
What they found
Women with perimenstrual asthma had a higher average BMI (25.8) than women with asthma but no period pattern (23.9) and healthy women (23.1), a difference that was statistically significant (p=0.018). Their breathing test results (FEV1) were also lower (85.1%) than the non-perimenstrual asthma group (93.1%). Blood eosinophil levels were not linked to the flare-ups.
What it means for you
Carrying more weight may make a woman more likely to have asthma that worsens around her period, but this is a very small study with only 30 women split across three groups, so the findings need confirming in larger studies.
30
Women in study
25.8
BMI in perimenstrual asthma group
0.018
p-value for BMI difference
About the study
- Original title
- [Exacerbations in perimenstrual asthma. Clinical significance of peripheral blood eosinophilia and BMI]
- Authors
- Skoczyński S, Semik-Orzech A, Pierzchała E et al.
- Journal
- Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 30
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27421125/