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Home environment and severe asthma in adolescence: a population based case-control study
1Department of Public Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|October 21, 1995
Summary
Exposure to furry pets and non-feather bedding, particularly foam pillows, are linked to severe asthma in adolescents. These factors may be remediable causes of childhood asthma, warranting further investigation for prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Allergy
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma is a significant public health concern in childhood.
- The home environment is a suspected contributor to asthma exacerbation and severity.
- Identifying specific environmental triggers is crucial for effective asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between home environment factors and the risk of severe asthma in adolescents.
- To identify specific indoor allergens or exposures that may increase asthma severity.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted using data from a cross-sectional survey of allergic diseases in secondary school pupils.
- Cases comprised children with severe wheezing episodes, matched with controls based on age and school class.
- Data on home environment exposures were collected via questionnaires from participants and their parents.
Main Results:
- Non-feather bedding, specifically foam pillows, showed a significant association with severe wheeze (OR 2.78).
- Ownership of furry pets, both currently and at birth, was independently associated with increased risk of severe wheeze (OR 1.51 and 1.70, respectively).
- Factors such as parental smoking, gas cooking, mattress age, and mold growth were not significantly linked to wheezing in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that synthetic bedding (foam pillows) and furry pets may be significant, potentially remediable, risk factors for severe asthma in adolescents.
- Further research is needed to confirm these associations and explore the underlying mechanisms.
- Allergy-aware families might avoid feather bedding, a factor not significantly associated with wheeze in this study, possibly due to successful avoidance.