title: The prevention and incidence of asthma and mite allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort study: design and first results.
abstract: The Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort study was initiated in 1996. Children born to allergic mothers were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial for evaluating the use of mite-impermeable mattress and pillow covers. Children born to allergic and non-allergic mothers were enrolled in a 'natural history' study to assess the role of environmental and dietary risk factors for the development of allergic disease in childhood. Recruitment started by distributing a validated screening questionnaire among >10,000 pregnant women during their first visit to a prenatal health clinic. Allergic mothers-to-be were invited to participate in the intervention study. Allergic, and a random sample of non-allergic, mothers-to-be were invited to participate in the 'natural history' arm of the study. In the intervention study, homes were visited before birth, 3 months after birth, and 12 months after birth for the collection of dust samples from floors and mattresses. In addition, the homes of about one-third of the children in the 'natural history' part of the study were visited for dust collection when the children were 3 months of age. The intervention study started with 855 participants and the 'natural history' study with 3,291 participants. Follow-up at 3 years of age has now been completed with satisfactory compliance (>90%). A medical investigation and home visit at 4years of age are nearing completion. Preliminary results show that mite-allergen levels were lower than found in previous Dutch studies, and that the intervention measure had a significant effect on mite-allergen levels, without important clinical benefits up to age 2 years old. The allergic families lived in homes with fewer 'triggers' such as pets, smoking and carpets than the non-allergic families, regardless of the intervention. The ongoing PIAMA cohort study will probably reveal useful information concerning effects of allergen load and reduction in the setting of a relatively low mite-allergen exposure, as well as other variables on the development of allergic manifestions and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.brunekreef@iras.uu.nl
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.forename: Jet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neijens
authors.forename: Jorrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: Dirkje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aalberse
authors.forename: Laurens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerkhof
authors.forename: Alet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilga
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Strien
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008925:Mites; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides