The New York City Puerto Rican asthma project: study design, methods, and baseline results.
OBJECTIVE
We examined asthma risk factors among 274 Puerto Rican children born in New York to atopic mothers.


METHODS
We prospectively followed the cohort to measure aeroallergens in their homes and assess allergic sensitization. Baseline data are presented.


RESULTS
Maternal smoking was significantly higher among women born on the continental United States (25%) vs. those born elsewhere (11%). Cat ownership was more frequent among mainland-born women (15%) compared with those born in Puerto Rico (4%). While some aeroallergens were prevalent, few dust samples contained detectable dust mite allergens.


CONCLUSIONS
By following this cohort, we hope to identify the roles that socio-cultural factors play in the process of allergic sensitization.
Acosta
Luis M
LM
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Acevedo-García
Dolores
D
Perzanowski
Matthew S
MS
Mellins
Robert
R
Rosenfeld
Lindsay
L
Cortés
Dharma
D
Gelman
Andrew
A
Fagan
Joanne K
JK
Bracero
Luis A
LA
Correa
Juan C
JC
Reardon
Ann Marie
AM
Chew
Ginger L
GL
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens