Abstract
Background: Asthma morbidity, mortality, and health services utilization are highest among inner-city populations. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel recommends that all patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma be evaluated for sensitization to environmental allergens. Objective: This study examined whether a cohort of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma had been evaluated for allergen sensitization, received avoidance counseling, and followed through on these recommendations. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine eligible patients who were part of a prospective cohort of all adults hospitalized in an inner-city hospital over a consecutive 12-month period completed a questionnaire to assess allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and adherence. Results: Overall, 60% of patients had ever been evaluated for allergen sensitization. Among those who were evaluated, 94.0% were sensitized to at least one antigen: 91.5% to dust mites, 90.5% to outdoor allergens, 77.9% to cats, 69.5% to dogs, 68.4% to molds, and 61% to cockroaches. Approximately half of the patients sensitized to dust mite (55.1%) or mold (52.8%) were given any avoidance-abatement advice. Patient adherence to this advice was highly variable. Allergen sensitization evaluation was more likely among women (odds ratio, 3.05; CI, 1.64-8.64) and those who use oral steroids most or all of the time (odds ratio, 7.14; CI, 2.25-22.56) and less likely among smokers (odds ratio, 0.26; CI, 0.11-0.61). Conclusion: In this population of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma, the quality of allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and patient adherence with these recommendations was suboptimal.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 146-152 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
| Volume | 116 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2005 |
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Keywords
- Adult
- Allergen evaluation
- Asthma
- Education
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
Cite this
Allergen sensitization evaluation and allergen avoidance education in an inner-city adult cohort with persistent asthma. / Busse, Paula J.; Wang, Jason J.; Halm, Ethan A.
In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol. 116, No. 1, 07.2005, p. 146-152.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Allergen sensitization evaluation and allergen avoidance education in an inner-city adult cohort with persistent asthma
AU - Busse, Paula J.
AU - Wang, Jason J.
AU - Halm, Ethan A.
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - Background: Asthma morbidity, mortality, and health services utilization are highest among inner-city populations. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel recommends that all patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma be evaluated for sensitization to environmental allergens. Objective: This study examined whether a cohort of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma had been evaluated for allergen sensitization, received avoidance counseling, and followed through on these recommendations. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine eligible patients who were part of a prospective cohort of all adults hospitalized in an inner-city hospital over a consecutive 12-month period completed a questionnaire to assess allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and adherence. Results: Overall, 60% of patients had ever been evaluated for allergen sensitization. Among those who were evaluated, 94.0% were sensitized to at least one antigen: 91.5% to dust mites, 90.5% to outdoor allergens, 77.9% to cats, 69.5% to dogs, 68.4% to molds, and 61% to cockroaches. Approximately half of the patients sensitized to dust mite (55.1%) or mold (52.8%) were given any avoidance-abatement advice. Patient adherence to this advice was highly variable. Allergen sensitization evaluation was more likely among women (odds ratio, 3.05; CI, 1.64-8.64) and those who use oral steroids most or all of the time (odds ratio, 7.14; CI, 2.25-22.56) and less likely among smokers (odds ratio, 0.26; CI, 0.11-0.61). Conclusion: In this population of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma, the quality of allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and patient adherence with these recommendations was suboptimal.
AB - Background: Asthma morbidity, mortality, and health services utilization are highest among inner-city populations. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel recommends that all patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma be evaluated for sensitization to environmental allergens. Objective: This study examined whether a cohort of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma had been evaluated for allergen sensitization, received avoidance counseling, and followed through on these recommendations. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine eligible patients who were part of a prospective cohort of all adults hospitalized in an inner-city hospital over a consecutive 12-month period completed a questionnaire to assess allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and adherence. Results: Overall, 60% of patients had ever been evaluated for allergen sensitization. Among those who were evaluated, 94.0% were sensitized to at least one antigen: 91.5% to dust mites, 90.5% to outdoor allergens, 77.9% to cats, 69.5% to dogs, 68.4% to molds, and 61% to cockroaches. Approximately half of the patients sensitized to dust mite (55.1%) or mold (52.8%) were given any avoidance-abatement advice. Patient adherence to this advice was highly variable. Allergen sensitization evaluation was more likely among women (odds ratio, 3.05; CI, 1.64-8.64) and those who use oral steroids most or all of the time (odds ratio, 7.14; CI, 2.25-22.56) and less likely among smokers (odds ratio, 0.26; CI, 0.11-0.61). Conclusion: In this population of inner-city adults hospitalized with asthma, the quality of allergen sensitization evaluation, avoidance education, and patient adherence with these recommendations was suboptimal.
KW - Adult
KW - Allergen evaluation
KW - Asthma
KW - Education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=21444433024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=21444433024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.03.031
DO - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.03.031
M3 - Article
C2 - 15990788
AN - SCOPUS:21444433024
VL - 116
SP - 146
EP - 152
JO - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
SN - 0091-6749
IS - 1
ER -