Ian Saldanha, PhD, MPH, MBBS

Research Project:
Weight Loss Drugs and Asthma: Evidence Synthesis to Inform a Randomized Trial

Grant Awarded:

ACRC Early Career Investigator

Research Topics:

clinical research
epidemiology
surgery

Research Disease:

asthma

About 60% of patients with asthma in the U.S. have obesity. This is a major public health issue because obesity may worsen asthma. Some common medications for asthma are less effective among people with obesity. Further, the effects of weight-loss medications on asthma are largely unknown. This group previously did two studies showing that 5% weight loss may lead to better asthma control. However, in one study, when compared with placebo, one medication (roflumilast) led to poor asthma control and more frequent urgent care visits for asthma. This study will conduct a systematic review of weight-loss medications to help us select treatments to test more rigorously in a randomized controlled trial of weight-loss medications on asthma. If successful, this project will likely shift current research and clinical practice in the management of obesity in patients with asthma.

Page last updated: October 9, 2023

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