Humidity control for chronic asthma.
BACKGROUND
Humidity control measures in the home environment of patients with asthma have been recommended, however there is no consensus about the usefulness of these measures.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of dehumidification of the home environment on asthma control.


METHODS
A search of the clinical trials registers of the Cochrane Collaboration and Cochrane Airways Group using search terms for asthma and [humid* OR water vapour OR water vapor* OR water-vapour* OR water-vapor*].


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials on the use of humidity control measures in the home environment of patients with asthma were evaluated for inclusion. Only one trial could be included.


METHODS
Data was extracted using a predesigned data extraction form. No data was available for entering into RevMan for analysis.


RESULTS
The included trial using mechanical ventilation with or without high efficiency vacuum cleaners did not show any clinical benefit to asthma patients. There was a decline in the house dust mite count and the antigen level. This open trial had a low sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for studying the health benefits of dehumidification by a double blind randomized controlled trial with adequate sample size measuring clinical outcomes in patients of asthma.
Singh
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, 160 012. medinst@pgi.chd.nic.in
Bara
A
A
Gibson
P
P
D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic