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Mold, smoke reduction in home lessened risk for asthma in middle age
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Middle-aged patients who reduced their home exposure to mold and environmental tobacco smoke may decrease their asthma or asthma-related respiratory symptoms, according to researchers.
Previous studies have examined indoor air pollution as a risk factor for asthma and respiratory symptoms. The associations between sources of air pollution, asthma phenotypes and asthma-related symptoms in this patient population, however, have not been confirmed, Desiree Mészáros, PhD, of the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, and colleagues wrote.
Data were collected from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, including 5,729 patients (51.5% men) who participated in the 2004 respiratory and home environment questionnaires. Results indicated that recent home mold was linked to current asthma (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.06–1.5), wheeze (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.54) and nighttime chest tightness (OR=1.3; 95% CI, 1.12–1.51), researchers wrote.
Atopy and gender stratification showed that recent mold appeared to be associated with current nonatopic asthma only in men (OR=3.73; 95% CI, 1.29-10.8). Researchers also wrote that rooms with more mold were associated with significant trends for current asthma, wheeze and nocturnal chest tightness.
Patients had a greater risk for developing an asthma diagnosis (OR=1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.53), wheeze (OR=1.69; 95% CI, 1.41-2.03), nocturnal chest tightness (OR=1.54; 95% CI, 1.26-1.88), with current asthma only in nonsmokers (OR=2.09; 95% CI, 1.3-3.35) and with current asthma only in men (OR=1.74; 95% CI, 1.25-2.42), when home environmental tobacco smoke was considered.
Researchers found that heating appliances and reverse cycle air conditioning worsened the risk for doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR=0.84; 95% CI, 0.7-1), although electric and gas stove usage did not correlate with either asthma phenotype or asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.