Objective: To determine the relationship between adiponectin levels and asthma control in non-obese asthmatic children.
Methods: Eighty-two children with asthma who had been followed up in a single center were included. The control group included 28 children with no evidence of allergic disease. Adiponectin levels were analyzed in all children. Additionally, skin prick tests and pulmonary function tests were also performed in patients.
Results: Three groups were designated with respect to asthma control as; well-controlled group (n = 28), partially controlled group (n = 34) and uncontrolled group (n = 20). There was no significant difference of gender, age, height, weight, BMI and adiponectin levels between study and control groups (p > 0.05). The duration of illness, presence of atopy and sensitivities to mite, pollens, dander and cockroaches were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Adiponectin, FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC levels were significantly lower in uncontrolled group (p < 0.05). Sensitivity to Alternaria alternata was significantly higher in the uncontrolled group (p < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, as dependent parameter, adiponectin, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC levels were found to be statistically significant for uncontrolled asthma.
Conclusion: Adiponectin levels in non-obese asthmatics were not different from controls. Lower levels of adiponectin were associated with uncontrolled asthma. Low adiponectin level can therefore be used as an indicator of uncontrolled asthma.
Keywords: Adiponectin; asthma; child; control.