https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:32651 30 kg/m²). Exacerbations requiring medical intervention were recorded prospectively. Asthma control, medication use, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide were assessed monthly; additional visits occurred during exacerbations. Peripheral blood was collected at baseline for the measurement of eosinophils, soluble CD-163, C-reactive protein, and IL-6. Results: Exacerbations occurred in a higher proportion of overweight (51.1%) and obese (48.4%) women compared with healthy weight women (25%; P =.026). Excess weight gain during pregnancy was not associated with exacerbation risk. Macrophage activation (elevated serum soluble CD-163) was associated with exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids (P =.043), whereas high peripheral blood eosinophils or fractional exhaled nitric oxide were not associated with exacerbation or oral corticosteroid use. Conclusions: Being overweight or obese confers a greater risk of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy, and may be due to systemic macrophage activation.]]> Wed 19 Jan 2022 15:19:04 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:14664 Wed 04 Sep 2019 11:10:47 AEST ]]>