Does a multifaceted environmental intervention alter the impact of asthma on inner-city children?

To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted environmental and educational intervention on the indoor environment and health in 5-12-year-old children with asthma living in urban environments. Changes in indoor allergen levels and asthma severity measurements were compared between children who were randomized to intervention and delayed intervention groups in a 14-month prospective field trial. Intervention group households received dust mite covers, a professional house cleaning, and had roach bait and trays placed in their houses. Of 981 eligible children, 410 (42%) were enrolled; 161 (40%) completed baseline activities and were randomized: 84 to intervention and 77 to delayed intervention groups. At the study's end, dust mite levels were 163% higher than at baseline for the delayed intervention group. Overall asthma severity scores did not change. However, the median functional severity score (FSS) component of the severity score improved more in the intervention group (33% vs. 20%) than in the delayed intervention group. At the study's end, the median FSSs for the intervention group improved 25% compared with the delayed intervention group, (p