The prevalence of obesity is rising at an alarming rate making it a significant public health concern and affecting more than half a billion worldwide. Obesity is linked to several metabolic disorders that are associated with increased mortality, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Obesity has been shown to negatively affect lung function, including those who have pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Interestingly, for patients with chronic conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic renal disease, and myocardial infarction), obesity is associated with decreased mortality, which describes the "Obesity Paradox". This phenomenon has also been described in patients with COPD. Although body composition is a better predictor of mortality than dietary status or body mass index (BMI), the majority of studies currently in existence focus on these topics. Also, some reports are controversial and do not take into account the whole spectrum of patient characteristics, as they might influence the paradox, such as disease phenotype, the extent of metabolic dysfunction, and comorbidities. Furthermore, a large multinational cohort revealed that the obesity paradox does not persist if BMI > 40 kg/m2, suggesting that in this population, obesity may not remain protective in extreme cases. Hence, further investigations are needed to understand the role of the obesity paradox in COPD and related complications, reveal the impact of different metabolic components on COPD outcomes among obese patients, and how to best manage weight loss/gain interventions for COPD populations.
This research topic seeks to clarify how obesity affects the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary disease, particularly COPD.
We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Reviews, Systematic Review, Meta-analyses, Brief Research Reports, General Commentary, and Case Reports on the following subtopics, including but not limited to:
• The role of obesity in the prognosis of respiratory conditions, specifically in COPD;
• The effect of BMI categories on pulmonary function outcomes of respiratory conditions, particularly COPD and its comorbidities;
• The impact of obesity assessment techniques on the outcomes of respiratory conditions, particularly COPD and its comorbidities;
• Different metabolic elements' effects on COPD or other respiratory conditions and their consequences;
• The obesity paradox in all-cause mortality in COPD or other respiratory conditions and its pathophysiological processes.
The prevalence of obesity is rising at an alarming rate making it a significant public health concern and affecting more than half a billion worldwide. Obesity is linked to several metabolic disorders that are associated with increased mortality, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Obesity has been shown to negatively affect lung function, including those who have pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Interestingly, for patients with chronic conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic renal disease, and myocardial infarction), obesity is associated with decreased mortality, which describes the "Obesity Paradox". This phenomenon has also been described in patients with COPD. Although body composition is a better predictor of mortality than dietary status or body mass index (BMI), the majority of studies currently in existence focus on these topics. Also, some reports are controversial and do not take into account the whole spectrum of patient characteristics, as they might influence the paradox, such as disease phenotype, the extent of metabolic dysfunction, and comorbidities. Furthermore, a large multinational cohort revealed that the obesity paradox does not persist if BMI > 40 kg/m2, suggesting that in this population, obesity may not remain protective in extreme cases. Hence, further investigations are needed to understand the role of the obesity paradox in COPD and related complications, reveal the impact of different metabolic components on COPD outcomes among obese patients, and how to best manage weight loss/gain interventions for COPD populations.
This research topic seeks to clarify how obesity affects the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary disease, particularly COPD.
We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Reviews, Systematic Review, Meta-analyses, Brief Research Reports, General Commentary, and Case Reports on the following subtopics, including but not limited to:
• The role of obesity in the prognosis of respiratory conditions, specifically in COPD;
• The effect of BMI categories on pulmonary function outcomes of respiratory conditions, particularly COPD and its comorbidities;
• The impact of obesity assessment techniques on the outcomes of respiratory conditions, particularly COPD and its comorbidities;
• Different metabolic elements' effects on COPD or other respiratory conditions and their consequences;
• The obesity paradox in all-cause mortality in COPD or other respiratory conditions and its pathophysiological processes.
