Predictors of indoor allergen

Indoor allergens can significantly increase morbidity in atopic children with asthma. The purpose of this study was to relate allergen-specific home characteristics to measured allergen levels in the homes of asthmatic children. As part of an ongoing environmental intervention study, pet, cockroach, and dust mite allergen levels were collected from the homes of 341 children. Trained inspectors documented characteristics of homes located in suburban Maryland (76%) and Baltimore City (23%). We used factor analyses and linear regressions to explore the relationship between evidence found during home inspection and allergen levels. Factor analyses identified groups of independent home characteristics associated with each allergen. The combined evidence of roaches, plumbing leaks, dirty cooking pots and city dwelling was significantly associated with cockroach allergen levels (t=8.6, p