Children with asthma exposed to indoor pest allergens may face respiratory issues: Study

“Mouse allergen concentration (OR 1.58) and cockroach allergen concentration (OR 1.79) was associated with URI with reduced lung function in 90 mostly Black kids sensitized to allergens,” Darlene Bhavnani, PhD, MPH, of Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin reported during the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting.

The researchers also observed associations between these allergens and symptomatic URI, but these were not statistically significant. Findings also revealed an association between mouse and cockroach allergen concentrations and URI with pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation. However, cat and dog allergen concentrations were not associated with URI outcomes.

Previous research has shown that Black children more often report URIs compared with white children with asthma. Similar disparities have also been observed for food allergies. It is suggested that certain environmental allergen/irritant exposures are more common in disadvantaged communities of colour and may lead to differences in susceptibility to URI.

The research team used longitudinal data collected from sensitized children in the Environmental Control as Add-on Therapy for Childhood Asthma study. The study included 90 participants: 60% were male, 92% were Black, and 92% had public health insurance.

Allergen concentrations were measured in the home air samples (mouse) and settled dust (cat, cockroach, and dog) taken at baseline, 3, and 6 months. At clinic visits that occurred every two months from baseline to 6 months, patients were assessed with nasal mucus samples and spirometry, which were tested for respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, coronavirus, influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus.

Reduced lung function was defined as a per cent predicted forced expiratory volume (FEV1) less than 80%, and pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation was defined as a fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) of 35 ppb or more. Odds ratios were adjusted for sex, age, season, month of study, health insurance type, and household size.

The study led to the following findings:

• 90 participants with 118 observations were included; 27% were positive for URI.
• Mouse allergen concentration was associated with symptomatic URI (OR51.24), URI+reduced lung function (OR51.58), and URI+pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation (OR51.42).
• Cockroach allergen concentration was associated with symptomatic URI (OR51.30) and URI+reduced lung function (OR51.79).
• There were no observations of URI+pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation among children sensitized to cockroach allergen.
• Cat and dog allergen concentrations were not associated with URI outcomes.

“Mouse and cockroach, but not dog and cat, allergen exposure may predispose sensitized children with asthma to URIs and associated pulmonary outcomes,” the researchers wrote.

Low allergen concentrations and their study’s moderate sample size may have limited their ability to detect associations, the researchers noted. Furthermore, data were collected from a low-income and mostly Black population from a single inner-city setting, which may limit the findings’ generalizability.

“Further studies including multiethnic and multiracial patients are needed to address the impacts of real-world disparities on patients with asthma,” they concluded.

Reference:

Bhavnani D, et al “Indoor allergen exposure and its influence on upper respiratory infections and pulmonary outcomes among children with asthma” AAAAI 2024; Abstract L20.