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Does a multifaceted environmental intervention alter the impact of asthma on inner-city children?

Seymour G Williams1, Clive M Brown, Kenneth H Falter

  • 1National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. sjw9@cdc.gov

Journal of the National Medical Association
|May 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A multifaceted intervention reduced dust mite allergen levels and improved asthma functional severity scores in urban children. This environmental and educational approach showed promise despite challenges in participant retention.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental health
  • Pediatric asthma management
  • Allergen control

Background:

  • Urban children with asthma face significant indoor environmental triggers.
  • Multifaceted interventions are being explored to mitigate asthma severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of an environmental and educational intervention on indoor allergens and asthma health in urban children aged 5-12.
  • To compare outcomes between an intervention group and a delayed intervention control group.

Main Methods:

  • A 14-month prospective field trial involving randomized controlled design.
  • Intervention included dust mite covers, professional cleaning, and pest control.
  • Asthma severity, allergen levels, and healthcare utilization were measured.

Main Results:

  • Dust mite levels increased significantly in the delayed intervention group.
  • Overall asthma severity scores did not change, but functional severity scores (FSS) improved.
  • The intervention group showed a significant improvement in median FSS (25%) compared to the control group (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

  • The intervention effectively reduced dust mite allergen levels and improved FSS in children with asthma.
  • Despite low retention rates, the intervention demonstrated positive effects, particularly for more severely affected children.
  • Complexities in intervention design and outcome assessment for multifaceted asthma programs were highlighted.
Abstract

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