Household Mouse Allergen Exposure Predicts Asthma Morbidity in Inner-city Pre-School Children

Abstract

829 Household Mouse Allergen Exposure Predicts Asthma Morbidity in Inner-city Pre-School Children E. C. Matsui1, P. A. Eggleston1, J. A. Krishnan2, P. Breysse3, C. Rand2, G. B. Diette2; 1Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 3Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. RATIONALE: Mouse allergen is commonly found in inner-city homes, but there are few data linking it to asthma morbidity. METHODS: Preschool children with asthma (N= 150) were recruited from inner-city Baltimore and underwent allergy skin testing. Bedroom dust samples were collected for analysis of Mus m 1 at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Medication use, symptoms, and health care use were assessed at the same time points. RESULTS: The mean age was 4.4 y, 58% were males, and 92% were African American. 68% were atopic and 17% were sensitized to mouse. All bedrooms had detectable settled dust Mus m 1 (median [IQR]: 2.5 g/g [0.5-8.8]). In longitudinal analyses, mouse-sensitized children exposed to > 0.5 g/g of Mus m 1 were more likely to be hospitalized (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.0-19.1), visit the emergency department (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.9), and have an unscheduled doctor’s visit (OR 3.9; 95% CI: 1.88.3) for asthma. Exposed and sensitized children were also more likely to report daily beta-agonist use (OR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.6-7.4), more symptom days (IRR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.6), and more nights of symptoms (IRR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.8) than the others. These findings persisted after adjustment for age, sex, atopy, and cockroach allergen sensitization and exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Among mouse-sensitized children, exposure to higher levels of Mus m 1 predicts poor asthma control and asthma-related health-care utilization. Funding: NIEHS, EPA, NIAID