Indoor Environmental Factors May Modify the Response to Mouse Allergen Reduction Among Mouse-Sensitized and Exposed Children with Persistent Asthma

Background: Whether concomitant home exposures modify the effectiveness of mouse allergen reduction among mouse-sensitized children with asthma is unknown. Objective: To determine whether a lower baseline home mouse allergen level, lower particulate matter 10 μ or less (PM₁₀), and the absence of sensitization and exposure to other indoor allergens are associated with greater improvements in asthma associated with mouse allergen reduction. Methods: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial of a home mouse allergen intervention was performed to examine the effect of 3 indoor factors on the relationship between mouse allergen reduction and a range of asthma outcomes. Results: Participants (N = 297) were predominantly minority (78% African American, 22% Hispanic) and publicly insured (88%). Higher baseline mouse allergen levels were associated with a greater response to mouse allergen reduction for several symptom and exacerbation outcomes. Lower indoor PM₁₀ levels were associated with a greater response to mouse allergen reduction for several symptom outcomes, but not exacerbation outcomes. Overall, sensitization and exposure to other indoor allergens did not appear to modify the effect of mouse allergen reduction. Conclusions: In this population of predominantly low-income children with persistent asthma and mouse sensitization, mouse allergen reduction was associated with improvements in asthma, especially among those with high baseline mouse allergen exposure. Lower indoor PM₁₀ was associated with greater improvements in asthma symptoms.