Obesity and the Airway: Disease Mechanisms, Associated Conditions, and Management
A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Respiratory Medicine".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 75
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Obesity is a growing pandemic, with its prevalence doubling since 1990. As of 2022, 890 million individuals globally are living with obesity. The United States currently ranks 10th in the world, with an obesity prevalence of 41%.
Obesity is associated with numerous comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Emerging literature also suggests that obesity influences airway disease through metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms. Studies have demonstrated associations between obesity and airway conditions such as asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis, as well as structural airway disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea.
The rising prevalence of obesity is creating an expanded patient population that requires specialized management. By 2035, 47% of US adults are expected to have obesity, suggesting that the burden of obesity-related airway diseases will also grow. In individuals with obesity, associated airway conditions such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea can be more difficult to manage, with overlapping mechanical and inflammatory mechanisms contributing to increased disease severity and reduced treatment response. Additionally, obesity presents unique challenges in airway management, including increased risk of peri-intubation complications and difficulties with ventilation.
As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, understanding and managing airway pathologies in this population is becoming increasingly important.
This Special Issue will comprehensively disseminate recent advances related to the disease mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and management of airway conditions associated with obesity. Our goal is to advance readers’ understanding of how obesity modifies common airway pathologies and to highlight emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this growing patient population.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The bidirectional relationship between obesity and sleep disorders;
- Skull base manifestations associated with obesity;
- The impact of obesity on the laryngeal airway;
- Implications of obesity in pulmonary conditions;
- Manifestations of upper airway inflammation in obesity.
Dr. Mohamad R. Chaaban
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- obesity
- airway
- inflammation
- rhinosinusitis
- cerebrospinal fluid leak
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- sleep
- obstructive sleep apnea
- intubation
- laryngopharyngeal reflux
- laryngotracheal stenosis
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