• Varun Sharma, Helen Clare Ricketts, Louise McCombie, Naomi Brosnahan, Luisa Crawford, Lesley Slaughter, Anna Goodfellow, Femke Steffensen, Rekha Chaudhuri, LeanMichael E JMEJGlasgow Royal Infirmary, Clinical Research Facility, Glasgow, UK; Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., and Douglas C Cowan.
• School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Clinical Research Facility, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: varun.sharma@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.
• Chest. 2024 Oct 18.

BackgroundObesity-associated asthma results in increased morbidity and mortality. We report one-year asthma outcomes with the Counterweight-Plus weight management programme (CWP) compared to usual care (UC) in a single-centre, randomised, controlled trial in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma and obesity.Research QuestionCan CWP use result in improved asthma control and quality of life compared to UC at one-year in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma and obesity?Study Design And MethodsWe randomised (1:1 CWP:UC) adults with difficult-to-treat asthma and body mass index ≥30kg/m2. CWP with dietitian support: 12-week total diet replacement phase (850kcal/day low-energy formula); food reintroduction and maintenance phases up to one-year. Outcomes include Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and healthcare usage. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is 0.5 for ACQ-6 and AQLQ.ResultsOf 36 recruited, 29 attended at 52-weeks: 13 CWP, 16 UC. CWP resulted in greater weight change (median -14kg [IQR -15, -9]) compared to UC (2kg [-7, 8]; p=0.015) at 52-weeks. A greater proportion achieved MCID with CWP vs UC in AQLQ (71% vs 6% respectively; p<0.001). No between-group differences were observed in ACQ-6. Median exacerbation frequency reduced over 52-weeks with CWP from 4 (IQR 2, 5) to 0 (0, 2) (p<0.001), though no between-group difference was observed. 70% of the CWP group lost ≥10% body weight and had improvement in ACQ-6 (mean difference -1.1, 95%CI -1.9, -0.3; p=0.018) and AQLQ (1.2, 95%CI 0.4, 2.1; p=0.011) across 52-weeks.InterpretationUse of a dietitian-supported weight management programme results in sustained weight-loss and is a potential treatment for obesity in asthma. CWP resulted in a higher proportion achieving MCID improvement in AQLQ compared to UC. Within group differences in AQLQ and exacerbation frequency suggest potential with CWP. These encouraging signals justify a larger sample study to further assess asthma-related outcomes.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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