A study from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital analyzed environmental exposures, like pets and secondhand smoke, to determine if they have a role in asthma control among children whose asthma is managed per National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Researchers found that, once asthma guidelines are followed, environmental exposures were not significant factors in overall asthma improvement over time.
Children at a pediatric asthma center were followed. At each visit, families answered questions on acute care needs and asthma/symptom control. Asthma in patients was evaluated at each visit.
Of the 395 children, ages 2 to 17, 25 percent were exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke and 55 percent were exposed to a cat or dog at home. Clinical outcomes improved over time in this cohort, and this improvement was independent of pet exposure. These findings suggest that asthma treatment is more important than certain types of environmental exposures.
Shahid Sheikh, Judy Pitts, Ann Salvator, Christopher Nemastil, Swaroop Pinto.Impact of Environmental Exposures (Second Hand Smoking and/or Pets) on Long-Term Asthma Control in Children.Chest, 2018; 154 (4): 738A DOI:10.1016/j.chest.2018.08.666 (Science Daily)
