Reduction in mouse allergen exposure is associated with greater lung function growth

BACKGROUND: Current childhood asthma therapies have little effect on lung function trajectory. OBJECTIVE: To determine if mouse allergen exposure reduction is associated with lung function growth in mouse-sensitized/exposed asthmatic children. METHODS: 350 mouse-sensitized/exposed asthmatic children (5–17y) were enrolled in a 1-year randomized trial of integrated pest management+education versus education alone. Pre-/post-bronchodilator (BD) spirometry was performed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, and bedroom floor mouse allergen was measured every 3 months. Mouse allergen reduction was defined as ≥75% decrease in mouse allergen from baseline. Treatment groups were combined for analyses, as there were no differences in outcomes between groups. Changes in lung function over time were modeled, adjusting for age, gender, race, atopy, group, BD reversibility and including an interaction term (allergen reduction*time). RESULTS: The study population was predominantly black (79.4%) and low-income (66.3%