The association of body mass index, weight gain and central obesity with activity-related breathlessness: the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study.

Breathlessness is common in the population, especially in women and associated with adverse health outcomes. Obesity (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m This population-based study aimed primarily to evaluate the association of current BMI and self-reported change in BMI since age 20 with breathlessness (modified Research Council score ≥1) in the middle-aged population. Secondary aims were to evaluate factors that contribute to breathlessness in obesity, including the interaction with spirometric lung volume and sex. We included 13 437 individuals; mean age 57.5 years; 52.5% women; mean BMI 26.8 (SD 4.3); mean BMI increase since age 20 was 5.0 kg/m Breathlessness is independently associated with obesity and with weight gain in adult life, and the association is stronger for individuals with lower lung volumes.

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Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Competing interests: SS reports being an advisory board member and receiving speakers honoraria from Actelion, Bayer, MSD, outside the submitted work. Dr Olin reports having a patent WO2009045163 (Collection and measurement of exhaled particles) and being a chairholder and board member of PExA AB, outside the submitted work. JS reports advisory board work for Itrim, outside the submitted work.