Indoor allergens, asthma, and asthma-related symptoms among adolescents in Wuhan, China.
OBJECTIVE
Information on indoor allergen exposures among non-Western populations, which have lower prevalence of atopic illness, is scant. We examined whether exposures to common indoor allergens were associated with doctor-diagnosed asthma and asthma-related symptoms among Chinese adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 4,185 ninth grade students was conducted at 22 randomly selected schools in Wuhan, China. Information on respiratory health and exposures to indoor allergens was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire completed in class.


RESULTS
Having animals currently was associated with persistent cough [prevalence odds ratio (POR)=1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI ): 1.21-2.11] and wheeze (POR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.94). Early-life exposure to animals was also associated with doctor-diagnosed asthma (POR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.35-2.82). Associations with respiratory symptoms strengthened with higher levels of exposure and for exposure in both early childhood and in adolescence. Exposure to cockroaches and having mold/water damage in the home contributed especially to wheezing (POR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.41-2.90 for cockroaches; POR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.82-3.40 for mold/water damage).


CONCLUSIONS
Indoor allergen exposures were positively associated with asthma diagnosis and persistent respiratory symptoms among Chinese adolescents. Neither early-life nor current exposure to animals was protective for asthma or asthma-related symptoms.
Salo
Päivi M
PM
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology Branch, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Xia
Jiang
J
Johnson
C Anderson
CA
Li
Yan
Y
Avol
Edward L
EL
Gong
Jie
J
London
Stephanie J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000506:poisoning; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002415:Cats; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011153:Population; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens