The National Asthma Survey—New York State: Association of the Home Environment with Current Asthma Status

Objectives. The National Asthma Survey—New York State (NYS), a telephone survey of NYS residents, was conducted in 2002-2003 to further understand the burden of asthma among adults and children and to identify health, socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with asthma. Methods. A total of 1,412 households with at least one member with current asthma and 2,290 control households answered questions about their home environment (e. g., presence of asthma triggers and practices that promote or reduce common asthma triggers). Results. For children younger than 18 years of age, we found statistically significant positive associations between current asthma and the presence of mold (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3, 3.3), air cleaners (AOR= 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.1), dehumidifiers (AOR= 2.0, 95% CI 1.4, 2.7), and humidifiers (AOR= 1.6, 95% CI 1.1, 2.3). For adults, there were statistically significant positive associations with the presence of mold (AOR= 2.5, 95% CI 1.8, 3.4), air cleaners (AOR= 2.2, 95% CI 1.7, 2.8), and humidifiers (AOR= 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.8). There were no statistically significant associations with the presence of cockroaches, pets, or tobacco smoke, while use of a wood-burning stove or fireplace was significantly more prevalent in control homes. Conclusions. Asthma guidelines emphasize the importance of reducing triggers in the home as part of a multifaceted approach to asthma control. Despite these guidelines, many asthma triggers (specifically, mold) were as prevalent or more so in the homes of New Yorkers with asthma as compared with control households. Public health interventions in NYS should focus on educating households about potential asthma triggers and their sources and teach methods to prevent, reduce, or eliminate them.