Bariatric surgery reduced the risk of an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma exacerbation by half and remained lower for at least 2 years after surgery, according to study results.

Thirteen to 24 months before surgery, 22% of patients required at least one ED or hospitalization for asthma exacerbation. In the year prior to surgery, the risk for an ED visit or hospitalization remained about the same (21.7%; OR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85-1.13).

However, at 1 year after bariatric surgery, the risk for an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma exacerbation decreased to 10.9% of patients (OR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.35-0.50) and remained the same 24 months later.