Sex Differences in the Effects of Inhaled Corticosteroids on Weight Gain among Patients with Asthma

Abstract EN

Background.

Studies have shown that asthma and asthma exacerbations are related to body weight and that this relationship might be sex-specific.

While oral corticosteroids have been associated with weight gain, little is known about the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use on short-term weight gain.

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether ICSs would be associated with weight gain among asthmatic patients.

Methods.

A total of 180 adult patients with physician-diagnosed asthma provided details of their medical history and demographic information, along with height and weight at baseline and at one year.

Weight change was defined as follow-up minus baseline weight.

General linear models were used to assess the relationship between ICS dose (fluticasone propionate equivalent) and sex.

Results.

Significant main effects of sex (P=.005) and ICS dose (P=.036) and an interaction effect of sex and ICS dose (P=.003) on weight change were observed.

Further analysis of the interaction indicated that women had greater weight gain, while men had decreased weight with increased ICS dose.

Conclusions.

Findings suggest that ICSs may trigger weight gain in females and highlight the need for studies to confirm this relationship and examine the potential underlying mechanisms.