TG/HDL-C Ratio Independent of Obesity Associates With Airflow Obstruction in Asthmatic Children 

Abstract There is conflicting evidence on the association between dyslipidemia and asthma. This study was to evaluate the correlation between dyslipidemia and pulmonary function parameters in asthmatic children.Asthmatic children (aged 5–18 years old) were measured for fasting serum lipid profiles, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and C-Reactive protein (CRP). A pulmonary function test was assessed by spirometry.One hundred-fifty asthmatic children were enrolled with the mean (sd) age 11.82 (3.38) years. Ninety-four children (62.7%) were males, and 70 children (46.7%) had dyslipidemia. Of 70 children with dyslipidemia, 15 children (21.4%) were obese. LDL-C was the most common dyslipidemia (62.85%), followed by TC (55.71%), non-HDL-C (50%), TG (34.28%), and HDL-C (17.14%). The significant correlations between % FEV1/FVC ratio and the level of serum HDL-C and TC and TG/HDL-C ratio were observed (r=0.215, r=0.831 and r=0.17, p<0.03). There was a significant negative correlation between the level of CRP and HDL-C, and % FEV1/FVC ratio and TG/HDL-C (r =-0.236, p=0.004 and r=-0.170, p=0.038). Children with airflow obstruction (% FEV1/FVC ratio<90) had significantly higher TG, TG/HDL-C ratio, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio but lower HDL-C. After adjusting with other blood lipids, body weight, BMI z-score, and obesity status, multiple logistic regression model demonstrated that only TG/HDL-C ratio was associated with % FEV1/FVC ratio<90, OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.5-5.15, p =0.001.Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidemia in children with asthma is high. TG/HDL-C ratio is associated with airflow obstruction in asthmatic children.Clinical Trial Registration: TCTR20200305005 date of registration 2020-03-04 retrospectively registered