TY - JOUR
T1 - Inner City Asthma Study
T2 - Relationships among sensitivity, allergen exposure, and asthma morbidity
AU - Gruchalla, Rebecca S.
AU - Pongracic, Jacqueline
AU - Plaut, Marshall
AU - Evans, Richard
AU - Visness, Cynthia M.
AU - Walter, Michelle
AU - Crain, Ellen F.
AU - Kattan, Meyer
AU - Morgan, Wayne J.
AU - Steinbach, Suzanne
AU - Stout, James
AU - Malindzak, George
AU - Smartt, Ernestine
AU - Mitchell, Herman
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by grants AI-39769, AI-39900, AI-39902, AI-39789, AI-39901, AI-39761, AI-39785, and AI-39776 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, and by grant M01 RR00533 from the National Center for Research Resources.
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Background: Asthma-associated morbidity is rising, especially in inner city children. Objective: We evaluated the allergen sensitivities, allergen exposures, and associated morbidity for participants in the Inner City Asthma Study. We also determined geographic variations of indoor allergen levels. Methods: Nine hundred thirty-seven inner city children 5 to 11 years old with moderate to severe asthma underwent allergen skin testing. Bedroom dust samples were evaluated for Der p 1, Der f 1, Bla g 1, Fel d 1, and Can f 1. Results: Skin test sensitivities to cockroach (69%), dust mites (62%), and molds (50%) predominated, with marked study site-specific differences. Cockroach sensitivity was highest in the Bronx, New York, and Dallas (81.2%, 78.7%, and 78.5%, respectively), and dust mite sensitivity was highest in Dallas and Seattle (83.7% and 78.0%, respectively). A majority of homes in Chicago, New York, and the Bronx had cockroach allergen levels greater than 2 U/g, and a majority of those in Dallas and Seattle had dust mite allergen levels greater than 2 μg/g. Levels of both of these allergens were influenced by housing type. Cockroach allergen levels were highest in high-rise apartments, whereas dust mite allergen levels were highest in detached homes. Children who were both sensitive and exposed to cockroach allergen had significantly more asthma symptom days, more caretaker interrupted sleep, and more school days missed than children who were not sensitive or exposed. Conclusion: Geographic differences in allergen exposure and sensitivity exist among inner city children. Cockroach exposure and sensitivity predominate in the Northeast, whereas dust mite exposure and sensitivity are highest in the South and Northwest. Cockroach allergen appears to have a greater effect on asthma morbidity than dust mite or pet allergen in these children.
AB - Background: Asthma-associated morbidity is rising, especially in inner city children. Objective: We evaluated the allergen sensitivities, allergen exposures, and associated morbidity for participants in the Inner City Asthma Study. We also determined geographic variations of indoor allergen levels. Methods: Nine hundred thirty-seven inner city children 5 to 11 years old with moderate to severe asthma underwent allergen skin testing. Bedroom dust samples were evaluated for Der p 1, Der f 1, Bla g 1, Fel d 1, and Can f 1. Results: Skin test sensitivities to cockroach (69%), dust mites (62%), and molds (50%) predominated, with marked study site-specific differences. Cockroach sensitivity was highest in the Bronx, New York, and Dallas (81.2%, 78.7%, and 78.5%, respectively), and dust mite sensitivity was highest in Dallas and Seattle (83.7% and 78.0%, respectively). A majority of homes in Chicago, New York, and the Bronx had cockroach allergen levels greater than 2 U/g, and a majority of those in Dallas and Seattle had dust mite allergen levels greater than 2 μg/g. Levels of both of these allergens were influenced by housing type. Cockroach allergen levels were highest in high-rise apartments, whereas dust mite allergen levels were highest in detached homes. Children who were both sensitive and exposed to cockroach allergen had significantly more asthma symptom days, more caretaker interrupted sleep, and more school days missed than children who were not sensitive or exposed. Conclusion: Geographic differences in allergen exposure and sensitivity exist among inner city children. Cockroach exposure and sensitivity predominate in the Northeast, whereas dust mite exposure and sensitivity are highest in the South and Northwest. Cockroach allergen appears to have a greater effect on asthma morbidity than dust mite or pet allergen in these children.
KW - Allergen exposure
KW - Allergen sensitivity
KW - Allergens
KW - Asthma
KW - Cat
KW - Cockroach
KW - Dog
KW - Dust mite
KW - Morbidity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20044386127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=20044386127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaci.2004.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jaci.2004.12.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 15753892
AN - SCOPUS:20044386127
SN - 0091-6749
VL - 115
SP - 478
EP - 485
JO - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
IS - 3
ER -