Infant sleeping environment and asthma at 7 years: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the role of infant bedding items, as part of a composite bedding environment, in the development of childhood wheezing.


METHODS
This prospective cohort investigation involved 863 children who participated in an infant survey in 1988 and an asthma study in Tasmania, Australia, in 1995. The derived 3 composite infant bedding categories corresponded to increasing numbers of house dust mite (HDM)-rich bedding items used. Outcomes measured included recent and frequent wheezing.


RESULTS
Composite infant bedding used was associated with recent wheezing. Effects increased at increasing levels of HDM-rich bedding items used. Effects were further enhanced by home environmental factors of bedroom heating, recent bedroom painting, and absence of bedroom carpeting. When any 2 or more of these environmental factors were present, a strong dose-response relationship was evident.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that bedding exposures in infancy are prospectively associated with childhood wheezing and that home environmental conditions may modify this association.
Trevillian
Leigh F
LF
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Ponsonby
Anne-Louise
AL
Dwyer
Terence
T
Kemp
Andrew
A
Cochrane
Jennifer
J
Lim
Lynette L-Y
LL
Carmichael
Allan
A
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012890:Sleep; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology