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Pappalardo AA, Martin MA, Weinstein S, Pugach O, Mosnaim GS. Improving Adherence in Urban Youth With Asthma: Role of Community Health Workers. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2022; 10:3186-3193. [PMID: 36058514 PMCID: PMC10091238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Asthma Action at Erie Trial is a comparative effectiveness trial comparing a community health worker (CHW) versus certified asthma educator (AE-C) intervention in low-income minority children. OBJECTIVES Determine whether asthma medication possession, adherence, technique, and triggers differ in children receiving an asthma CHW compared with an AE-C intervention. METHODS Children with uncontrolled asthma were randomized to receive 10 CHW home visits or 2 AE-C sessions in a clinic over 1 year. Asthma medication possession and inhaler technique were observed; adherence was measured using self-report, dose counters, and electronic monitors. Environmental triggers were captured by self-report, observation, and objective measurement. Mixed effects linear and logistic regression models were estimated for continuous and binary outcomes. RESULTS Children (n = 223) were mainly Hispanic (85%) and ages 5 to 16 years. Quick-relievers (82%), spacers (72%), and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing medications (44%) were tracked. Of those with uncontrolled asthma, 35% lacked an ICS prescription (n = 201). Children in the CHW arm were more likely to have an ICS prescription at 12 months (odds ratio 2.39; 95% CI 0.99-5.79). Inhaler technique improved 9.8% in the CHW arm at 6 months (95% CI 4.20-15.32). The ICS adherence improved in the CHW arm at 12 months, with a 16.0% (95% CI 2.3-29.7; P = .02) difference between arms. Differences in trigger exposure over time were not observed between arms. CONCLUSIONS The CHW services were associated with improved ICS adherence and inhaler technique, compared with AE-C services. More information is needed to determine the necessary dosage of intervention to sustain adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A Pappalardo
- Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago of Medicine, Chicago, Ill.
| | - Molly A Martin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Sally Weinstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Oksana Pugach
- Department of Biostatistics, Corevitas, LLC, Waltham, Mass
| | - Giselle S Mosnaim
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, Ill
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Wang G, Schwartz GL, Kim MH, White JS, Glymour MM, Reardon S, Kershaw KN, Gomez SL, Inamdar PP, Hamad R. School Racial Segregation and the Health of Black Children. Pediatrics 2022; 149:186781. [PMID: 35434734 PMCID: PMC9173588 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-055952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few researchers have evaluated whether school racial segregation, a key manifestation of structural racism, affects child health, despite its potential impacts on school quality, social networks, and stress from discrimination. We investigated whether school racial segregation affects Black children's health and health behaviors. METHODS We estimated the association of school segregation with child health, leveraging a natural experiment in which school districts in recent years experienced increased school segregation. School segregation was operationalized as the Black-White dissimilarity index. We used ordinary least squares models as well as quasi-experimental instrumental variables analysis, which can reduce bias from unobserved confounders. Data from the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1997-2014, n = 1248 Black children) were linked with district-level school segregation measures. Multivariable regressions were adjusted for individual-, neighborhood-, and district-level covariates. We also performed subgroup analyses by child sex and age. RESULTS In instrumental variables models, a one standard deviation increase in school segregation was associated with increased behavioral problems (2.53 points on a 27-point scale; 95% CI, 0.26 to 4.80), probability of having ever drunk alcohol (0.23; 95% CI, 0.049 to 0.42), and drinking at least monthly (0.20; 95% CI, 0.053 to 0.35). School segregation was more strongly associated with drinking behaviors among girls. CONCLUSIONS School segregation was associated with worse outcomes on several measures of well-being among Black children, which may contribute to health inequities across the life span. These results highlight the need to promote school racial integration and support Black youth attending segregated schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyi Wang
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gabriel L Schwartz
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Min Hee Kim
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Justin S White
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sean Reardon
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Kiarri N Kershaw
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Scarlett Lin Gomez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Pushkar P Inamdar
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rita Hamad
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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3
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Abellard A, Pappalardo AA. Overview of severe asthma, with emphasis on pediatric patients: a review for practitioners. J Investig Med 2021; 69:1297-1309. [PMID: 34168068 DOI: 10.1136/jim-2020-001752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common life-threatening chronic disease in children. Although guidelines exist for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, treatment of severe, pediatric asthma remains difficult. Limited studies in the pediatric population on new asthma therapies, complex issues with adolescence and adherence, health disparities, and unequal access to guideline-based care complicate the care of children with severe, persistent asthma. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of asthma, including asthma subtypes, comorbidities, and risk factors, to discuss diagnostic considerations and pitfalls and existing treatments, and then present existing and emerging therapeutic approaches to asthma management. An improved understanding of asthma heterogeneity, clinical characteristics, inflammatory patterns, and pathobiology can help further guide the management of severe asthma in children. More studies are needed in the pediatric population to understand emerging therapeutics application in children. Effective multimodal strategies tailored to individual characteristics and a commitment to address risk factors, modifiers, and health disparities may help reduce the burden of asthma in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arabelle Abellard
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrea A Pappalardo
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Finell E, Tolvanen A, Ikonen R, Pekkanen J, Ståhl T. Students' school-level symptoms mediate the relationship between a school's observed moisture problems and students' subjective perceptions of indoor air quality. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:40-50. [PMID: 32619333 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Moisture damage can influence the subjective assessment of indoor air quality (subjective IAQ) in various ways. We studied whether the frequency of symptoms reported across students at school level mediates the relationship between observed mold and dampness in a school building and students' subjective IAQ. To answer this research question, we tested a multilevel path model. The analyzed data were created by merging two nationwide data sets: (a) survey data from students, including information on subjective IAQ (N = 24,786 students); (b) data from schools, including information on mold and dampness in a school building (N = 222). After the background variables were adjusted, schools' observed mold and dampness were directly and significantly related to poor subjective IAQ (standardized beta (β)= 0.22, P = .002). In addition, in schools with mold and dampness, students reported significantly more symptoms (β = 0.22, P = .023) than in schools without; the higher the prevalence of symptoms at school level, the worse the students' subjective IAQ (β = 0.60, P < .001). This indirect path was significant (P = .023). In total, schools' observed mold and dampness and student-reported symptoms explained 52% of the between-school variance in subjective IAQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eerika Finell
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Asko Tolvanen
- Methodology Center for Human Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskyla, Finland
| | - Riikka Ikonen
- Department of Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Pekkanen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Timo Ståhl
- Department of Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Tampere, Finland
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Branco PTBS, Alvim-Ferraz MCM, Martins FG, Ferraz C, Vaz LG, Sousa SIV. Impact of indoor air pollution in nursery and primary schools on childhood asthma. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:140982. [PMID: 32736106 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Poor indoor air quality in scholar environments have been frequently reported, but its impact on respiratory health in schoolchildren has not been sufficiently explored. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the associations between children's exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) in nursery and primary schools and childhood asthma. Multivariate models (independent and multipollutant) quantified the associations of children's exposure with asthma-related health outcomes: reported active wheezing, reported and diagnosed asthma, and lung function (reduced FEV1/FVC and reduced FEV1). A microenvironmental modelling approach estimated individual inhaled exposure to major indoor air pollutants (CO2, CO, formaldehyde, NO2, O3, TVOC, PM2.5 and PM10) in nursery and primary schools from both urban and rural sites in northern Portugal. Questionnaires and medical tests (spirometry pre- and post-bronchodilator) were used to obtain information on health outcomes and to diagnose asthma following the newest international clinical guidelines. After testing children for aeroallergen sensitisation, multinomial models estimated the effect of exposure to particulate matter on asthma in sensitised individuals. The study population were 1530 children attending nursery and primary schools, respectively 648 pre-schoolers (3-5 years old) and 882 primary school children (6-10 years old). This study found no evidence of a significant association between IAP in nursery and primary schools and the prevalence of childhood asthma. However, reported active wheezing was associated with higher NO2, and reduced FEV1 was associated with higher O3 and PM2.5, despite NO2 and O3 in schools were always below the 200 μg m-3 threshold from WHO and National legislation, respectively. Moreover, sensitised children to common aeroallergens were more likely to have asthma during childhood when exposed to particulate matter in schools. These findings support the urgent need for mitigation measures to reduce IAP in schools, reducing its burden to children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro T B S Branco
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C M Alvim-Ferraz
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando G Martins
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Ferraz
- Departamento de Pediatria (UAG-MC), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa G Vaz
- Departamento de Pediatria (UAG-MC), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia I V Sousa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Toyran M, Yagmur IT, Guvenir H, Haci IA, Bahceci S, Batmaz SB, Topal OY, Celik IK, Karaatmaca B, Misirlioglu ED, Civelek E, Can D, Kocabas CN. Asthma control affects school absence, achievement and quality of school life: a multicenter study. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2020; 48:545-552. [PMID: 32763026 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2020.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Asthma may have a detrimental effect on school attendance and achievement. Friend relations, attendance to school activities, quality of life (QOL) of asthmatic children may be negatively affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors influencing school functioning for asthmatic school-age children. MATERIALS AND METHODS From January to May 2019, parents and school-age children who were followed by a diagnosis of asthma for more than one year, from seven pediatric allergy centers, were given a standard questionnaire including questions about child's disease, school performance, absenteeism, home-family-school conditions. A pediatric QOL questionnaire was filled out by children. For evaluating control in the previous year, children who had more than two exacerbations and/or had any exacerbations needing systemic corticosteroids in the previous year were defined as inadequate control. School absence over nine days was taken into account as this has been shown to bring a risk for successful school life. RESULTS 507 patients were included. Asthma control status was found to be effective on school absence (p < 0.001), on school success (especially math scores) (p < 0.001), on friend relations (p = 0.033), QOL (p < 0.001), attendance to school activities (p < 0.001). Regular follow-up (p < 0.001), regular use of asthma medication (p = 0.014), tobacco smoke exposure (p < 0.001), heating with stove at home (p = 0.01) affected asthma control. School conditions such as crowdedness (p = 0.044), humidity of the class (p = 0.025), knowledge of teacher about child's asthma (p = 0.012) were effective on asthma control independent of home conditions and asthma treatment parameters. CONCLUSION School interventions are important to improve asthma management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Toyran
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - I T Yagmur
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - H Guvenir
- Malatya Training and Research Hospital, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - I A Haci
- Health Sciences University, Dr.Behçet Uz Children Training and Research Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, İzmir, Turkey.
| | - S Bahceci
- Cigli Training and Research Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, İzmir, Turkey.
| | - S B Batmaz
- Tokat State Hospital, Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic, Tokat, Turkey.
| | - O Y Topal
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - I K Celik
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - B Karaatmaca
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - E D Misirlioglu
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - E Civelek
- Ankara City Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - D Can
- Balıkesir University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Balıkesir, Turkey.
| | - C N Kocabas
- Muğla Sitki Kocman University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mugla, Turkey.
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Trivedi M, Denton E. Asthma in Children and Adults-What Are the Differences and What Can They Tell us About Asthma? Front Pediatr 2019; 7:256. [PMID: 31294006 PMCID: PMC6603154 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma varies considerably across the life course. Childhood asthma is known for its overall high prevalence with a male predominance prior to puberty, common remission, and rare mortality. Adult asthma is known for its female predominance, uncommon remission, and unusual mortality. Both childhood and adult asthma have variable presentations, which are described herein. Childhood asthma severity is associated with duration of asthma symptoms, medication use, lung function, low socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minorities, and a neutrophilic phenotype. Adult asthma severity is associated with increased IgE, elevated FeNO, eosinophilia, obesity, smoking, and low socioeconomic status. Adult onset disease is associated with more respiratory symptoms and asthma medication use despite higher prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC. There is less quiescent disease in adult onset asthma and it appears to be less stable than childhood-onset disease with more relapses and less remissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Trivedi
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Eve Denton
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Naja AS, Permaul P, Phipatanakul W. Taming Asthma in School-Aged Children: A Comprehensive Review. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2018; 6:726-735. [PMID: 29747980 PMCID: PMC5953205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of childhood morbidity as measured by school absences, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Multiple factors play a role in the development, treatment and prevention of childhood asthma including racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, both the home and school environments, and medication use. The goals of this review are to summarize these aspects of asthma in school-aged children and to present an updated review of medications as it relates to treatment strategies that will help in the care of these children. We conclude that phenotypic heterogeneity and appropriate environmental assessments and interventions are important considerations in the management of childhood asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Salaheddine Naja
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Perdita Permaul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
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Permaul P, Phipatanakul W. School Environmental Intervention Programs. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2018; 6:22-29. [PMID: 29310758 PMCID: PMC5773264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to indoor allergens and pollutants plays a significant part in the development of asthma and its associated morbidity. Inner-city children with asthma are disproportionately affected by these exposures with increased asthma morbidity. Although years of previous research have linked exposures in the urban home environment with significant childhood asthma disease, many of these allergens are also present in inner-city school environments. Therefore, evaluation of the school environment of patients with asthma is also essential. School-based environmental interventions may offer benefit for this problem and has the potential to help many children with asthma at once in a cost-effective manner. It is important that environmental health researchers continue to assess which interventions are most practical and result in the greatest measurable improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perdita Permaul
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
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10
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Phipatanakul W, Koutrakis P, Coull BA, Kang CM, Wolfson JM, Ferguson ST, Petty CR, Samnaliev M, Cunningham A, Sheehan WJ, Gaffin JM, Baxi SN, Lai PS, Permaul P, Liang L, Thorne PS, Adamkiewicz G, Brennan KJ, Baccarelli AA, Gold DR. The School Inner-City Asthma Intervention Study: Design, rationale, methods, and lessons learned. Contemp Clin Trials 2017; 60:14-23. [PMID: 28619649 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States, causes significant morbidity, particularly in the inner-city, and accounts for billions of dollars in health care utilization. Home environments are established sources of exposure that exacerbate symptoms and home-based interventions are effective. However, elementary school children spend 7 to 12h a day in school, primarily in one classroom. From the observational School Inner-City Asthma Study we learned that student classroom-specific exposures are associated with worsening asthma symptoms and decline in lung function. We now embark on a randomized, blinded, sham-controlled school environmental intervention trial, built on our extensively established school/community partnerships, to determine the efficacy of a school-based intervention to improve asthma control. This factorial school/classroom based environmental intervention will plan to enroll 300 students with asthma from multiple classrooms in 40 northeastern inner-city elementary schools. Schools will be randomized to receive either integrated pest management versus control and classrooms within these schools to receive either air purifiers or sham control. The primary outcome is asthma symptoms during the school year. This study is an unprecedented opportunity to test whether a community of children can benefit from school or classroom environmental interventions. If effective, this will have great impact as an efficient, cost-effective intervention for inner city children with asthma and may have broad public policy implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanda Phipatanakul
- Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Brent A Coull
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Choong-Min Kang
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jack M Wolfson
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Stephen T Ferguson
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carter R Petty
- Boston Children's Hospital, Clinical Research Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mihail Samnaliev
- Boston Children's Hospital, Clinical Research Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Amparito Cunningham
- Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - William J Sheehan
- Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Respiratory Diseases, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sachin N Baxi
- Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peggy S Lai
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Perdita Permaul
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Liming Liang
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peter S Thorne
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Iowa City, United States
| | - Gary Adamkiewicz
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kasey J Brennan
- Columbia University School of Public Health, New York, Department of Environmental Health, New York, United States
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Columbia University School of Public Health, New York, Department of Environmental Health, New York, United States
| | - Diane R Gold
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, United States; Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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11
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Urrutia-Pereira M, To T, Cruz Á, Solé D. The school as a health promoter for children with asthma: The purpose of an education programme. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2017; 45:93-98. [PMID: 27475777 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Not only is asthma one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in children under 15 years and one of the main reasons for primary care outpatient visits, it also accounts for 13 million lost days of school annually, which can affect children's learning, integration at school and overall academic achievements. MATERIAL AND METHODS This review article highlights the important role of the school in helping children and adolescents to control and manage their asthma through integrated and coordinated actions of health professionals, school staff, family, and the community. RESULTS We recommended key elements for a multidisciplinary team asthma school programme that can be replicated and implemented especially in developing countries where children and adolescents are in a more disadvantaged environment. CONCLUSION This multidisciplinary asthma school intervention when demonstrated with efficacy can be applied in the context of the real world, where many children and families who need care the most currently do not receive it.
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12
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Recent advances in environmental controls outside the home setting. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2016; 16:135-41. [PMID: 26859366 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW It has been well studied that aeroallergen, mold, and airborne pollutant exposure in the inner-city home environment is associated with significant childhood asthma morbidity. Although the home environment has been extensively studied, the school environment is less well understood. RECENT FINDINGS In this article, we discuss the relationship between environmental exposures within the school and daycare environment and pediatric asthma morbidity and novel environmental interventions designed to help mitigate pediatric asthma morbidity. SUMMARY Studies assessing environmental exposures outside the home environment and interventions to mitigate these exposures have the potential to reduce pediatric asthma morbidity. Further study in this area should focus on the complex cost benefit analyses of environmental interventions outside the home setting, while controlling for the home environment.
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