Dataset Information

Association between fungal spore exposure in inner-city schools and asthma morbidity.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Home fungus exposures may be associated with development or worsening of asthma. Little is known about the effects of school/classroom fungus exposures on asthma morbidity in students. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association of school-based fungus exposures on asthma symptoms in both fungus-sensitized and nonsensitized students with asthma. METHODS:In this prospective study, 280 children with asthma from 37 inner-city schools were phenotypically characterized at baseline and followed-up for 1 year. Fungal spores were collected by using a Burkard air sampler twice during the school year. Clinical outcomes were evaluated throughout the school year and linked to classroom-specific airborne spore sampling. The primary outcome was days with asthma symptoms per 2-week period. RESULTS:Fungal spores were present in all classroom samples. The geometric mean of the total fungi was 316.9 spores/m3 and ranged from 15.0 to 59,345.7 spores/m3. There was variability in total fungus quantity between schools and classrooms within the same school. Mitospores were the most commonly detected fungal grouping. Investigation of the individual mitospores revealed that exposure to Alternaria was significantly associated with asthma symptom days in students sensitized to Alternaria (OR = 3.61, CI = 1.34-9.76, P = .01), but not in children not sensitized to Alternaria (OR = 1.04, CI = 0.72-1.49, P = .85). Students sensitized to Alternaria and exposed to high levels (?75th percentile exposure) had 3.2 more symptom days per 2-week period as compared with students sensitized but exposed to lower levels. CONCLUSION:Children with asthma who are sensitized to Alternaria and exposed to this fungus in their classroom may have significantly more days with asthma symptoms than those who were sensitized and not exposed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinicaltrials.govNCT01756391.

SUBMITTER: Baxi SN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6555650 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Association between fungal spore exposure in inner-city schools and asthma morbidity.

Baxi Sachin N SN Sheehan William J WJ Sordillo Joanne E JE Muilenberg Michael L ML Rogers Christine A CA Gaffin Jonathan M JM Permaul Perdita P Lai Peggy S PS Louisias Margee M Petty Carter R CR Fu Chunxia C Gold Diane R DR Phipatanakul Wanda W

Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 20190320 6

<h4>Background</h4>Home fungus exposures may be associated with development or worsening of asthma. Little is known about the effects of school/classroom fungus exposures on asthma morbidity in students.<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the association of school-based fungus exposures on asthma symptoms in both fungus-sensitized and nonsensitized students with asthma.<h4>Methods</h4>In this prospective study, 280 children with asthma from 37 inner-city schools were phenotypically characterized at ba ...[more]

PMID: 30904580

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Project description:ImportanceHome aeroallergen exposure is associated with increased asthma morbidity in children, yet little is known about the contribution of school aeroallergen exposures to such morbidity.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of school-specific aeroallergen exposures on asthma morbidity among students, adjusting for home exposures.Design, setting, and participantsThe School Inner-City Asthma Study was a prospective cohort study evaluating 284 students aged 4 to 13 years with asthma who were enrolled from 37 inner-city elementary schools in the northeastern United States between March 1, 2008, and August 31, 2013. Enrolled students underwent baseline clinical evaluations before the school year started and were then observed clinically for 1 year. During that same school year, classroom and home dust samples linked to the students were collected and analyzed for common indoor aeroallergens. Associations between school aeroallergen exposure and asthma outcomes during the school year were assessed, adjusting for home exposures.ExposuresIndoor aeroallergens, including rat, mouse, cockroach, cat, dog, and dust mites, measured in dust samples collected from inner-city schools.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was maximum days in the past 2 weeks with asthma symptoms. Secondary outcomes included well-established markers of asthma morbidity, including asthma-associated health care use and lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second.ResultsAmong 284 students (median age, 8 years [interquartile range, 6-9 years]; 148 boys and 136 girls), exposure to mouse allergen was detected in 441 (99.5%) of 443 school dust samples, cat allergen in 420 samples (94.8%), and dog allergen in 366 samples (82.6%). Levels of mouse allergen in schools were significantly higher than in students' homes (median settled dust level, 0.90 vs 0.14 µg/g; P < .001). Exposure to higher levels of mouse allergen in school (comparing 75th with 25th percentile) was associated with increased odds of having an asthma symptom day (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05-1.54; P = .02) and 4.0 percentage points lower predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (95% CI, -6.6 to -1.5; P = .002). This effect was independent of allergic sensitization. None of the other indoor aeroallergens were associated with worsening asthma outcomes.Conclusions and relevanceIn this study of inner-city students with asthma, exposure to mouse allergen in schools was associated with increased asthma symptoms and decreased lung function. These findings demonstrate that the school environment is an important contributor to childhood asthma morbidity. Future school-based environmental interventions may be beneficial for this important public health problem.

Project description:BackgroundChildren with asthma in low-income urban areas have high morbidity. Phenotypic analysis in these children is lacking, but may identify characteristics to inform successful tailored management approaches.ObjectiveWe sought to identify distinct asthma phenotypes among inner-city children receiving guidelines-based management.MethodsNine inner-city asthma consortium centers enrolled 717 children aged 6 to 17 years. Data were collected at baseline and prospectively every 2 months for 1 year. Participants' asthma and rhinitis were optimally managed by study physicians on the basis of guidelines. Cluster analysis using 50 baseline and 12 longitudinal variables was performed in 616 participants completing 4 or more follow-up visits.ResultsFive clusters (designated A through E) were distinguished by indicators of asthma and rhinitis severity, pulmonary physiology, allergy (sensitization and total serum IgE), and allergic inflammation. In comparison to other clusters, cluster A was distinguished by lower allergy/inflammation, minimally symptomatic asthma and rhinitis, and normal pulmonary physiology. Cluster B had highly symptomatic asthma despite high step-level treatment, lower allergy and inflammation, and mildly altered pulmonary physiology. Cluster C had minimally symptomatic asthma and rhinitis, intermediate allergy and inflammation, and mildly impaired pulmonary physiology. Clusters D and E exhibited progressively higher asthma and rhinitis symptoms and allergy/inflammation. Cluster E had the most symptomatic asthma while receiving high step-level treatment and had the highest total serum IgE level (median, 733 kU/L), blood eosinophil count (median, 400 cells/mm3), and allergen sensitizations (15 of 22 tested).ConclusionsAllergy distinguishes asthma phenotypes in urban children. Severe asthma often coclusters with highly allergic children. However, a symptomatic phenotype with little allergy or allergic inflammation was identified.

Project description:To examine the association of social and environmental factors with levels of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure, as measured by salivary cotinine, in young inner-city children with asthma.We used data drawn from a home-based behavioral intervention for young high-risk children with persistent asthma post-emergency department (ED) treatment (N = 198). SHS exposure was measured by salivary cotinine and caregiver reports. Caregiver demographic and psychological functioning, household smoking behavior, and asthma morbidity were compared with child cotinine concentrations. Chi-square and ANOVA tests and multivariate regression models were used to determine the association of cotinine concentrations with household smoking behavior and asthma morbidity.Over half (53%) of the children had cotinine levels compatible with SHS exposure and mean cotinine concentrations were high at 2.42 ng/ml (SD 3.2). The caregiver was the predominant smoker in the home (57%) and 63% reported a total home smoking ban. Preschool aged children and those with caregivers reporting depressive symptoms and high stress had higher cotinine concentrations than their counterparts. Among children living in a home with a total home smoking ban, younger children had significantly higher mean cotinine concentrations than older children (cotinine: 3-5 year olds, 2.24 ng/ml (SD 3.5); 6-10 year olds, 0.63 ng/ml (SD 1.0); p < .05). In multivariate models, the factors most strongly associated with high child cotinine concentrations were increased number of household smokers (? = 0.24) and younger child age (3-5 years) (? = 0.23; p < .001, R(2) = 0.35).Over half of the young inner-city children with asthma were exposed to SHS, and caregivers are the predominant household smokers. Younger children and children with depressed and stressed caregivers are at significant risk of smoke exposures, even when a household smoking ban is reported. Further advocacy for these high-risk children is needed to help caregivers quit and to mitigate smoke exposure.

Dataset Information

Association between fungal spore exposure in inner-city schools and asthma morbidity.

Publications

Association between fungal spore exposure in inner-city schools and asthma morbidity.

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