The impact of obesity-related asthma on neurodevelopmental disorders in children: a cross-sectional study

Background

Although asthma and obesity are independently associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, whether their co-occurrence is associated with a higher burden of these disorders remains unclear.

Methods

Using NHIS data from children and adolescents aged 10–17 years with complete BMI and neurodevelopmental data, 42,444 participants were stratified into four categories according to their asthma and obesity status: obesity-related asthma (OA), asthma without obesity (NOA), obesity without asthma (ONA), and neither condition (NC).

Results

Compared with the NC group, the adjusted odds ratios for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental delay were, respectively, 1.84 (95% CI 1.57–2.14), 1.87 (95% CI 1.57–2.22), 2.20 (95% CI 1.57–3.07), and 2.29 (95% CI 1.79–2.94) in the OA group; 1.56 (95% CI 1.40–1.74), 1.51 (95% CI 1.34–1.69), 1.12 (95% CI 0.87–1.43), and 1.50 (95% CI 1.26–1.79) in the NOA group; 1.23 (95% CI 1.10–1.38), 1.32 (95% CI 1.17–1.48), 1.53 (95% CI 1.21–1.93), and 1.31 (95% CI 1.10–1.56) in the ONA group.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated a significant association between obesity-related asthma and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The co-occurrence of obesity and asthma is associated with stronger associations than either condition alone.

Impact

Our study showed that there was a significant association between obesity-related asthma and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Our study also suggested that the co-occurrence of obesity and asthma is associated with stronger associations than either condition alone.

Our study filled the research gap regarding the association between obesity-related asthma and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

Our findings highlight the need for further longitudinal studies to examine whether integrated management of obesity and asthma is related to neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. These findings may help identify children with co-occurring obesity and asthma as a subgroup warranting closer developmental assessment.