title: The New York City Puerto Rican asthma project: study design, methods, and baseline results.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Acevedo-García
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Perzanowski
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mellins
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Dharma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gelman
authors.forename: Joanne K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bracero
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Ginger L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chew
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens