Oluwafemi Oluwole1, Donna C Rennie2, Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan3, Roland Dyck4, Anna Afanasieva5, Shelley Kirychuk4, George Katselis4, Joshua A Lawson4. 1. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada; Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. Electronic address: olo535@mail.usask.ca. 2. Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada; College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada. 3. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 - 87 Ave Edmonton, Alberta, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. 4. Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada. 5. Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2Z4, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asthma severity can be affected by microbial exposures. However, less is known about the specific indoor agents aggravating the disease in children. We examined the associations between indoor endotoxin and beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan exposures and asthma severity in children with asthma. METHODS: A clinical cross-sectional study of schoolchildren (aged 7-17 years) was conducted in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Children with asthma (n = 116) were identified from 335 participants using a combination of survey responses and objective clinical assessments. We then ascertained asthma severity based on recommended guidelines (continuous daytime asthma symptoms, frequent nighttime asthma symptoms, and ≤ 60% predicted FEV1). Levels of indoor endotoxin and beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan were measured in dust samples obtained from play area floors and child's mattresses. RESULTS: The study population of 116 children with asthma was comprised of 75.9% mild asthma and 24.1% moderate/severe asthma. Higher mattress endotoxin concentration was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe asthma [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 11.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-89.43] while higher beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan concentration (aOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03-0.89) and load (aOR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.72) in play areas were inversely associated with moderate/severe asthma. Furthermore, higher mattress endotoxin concentration was associated with lower FVC (p = 0.01) and FEV1 (p = 0.03). These associations were not seen for beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan. CONCLUSION: Our results showed differential effects of microbial exposures on childhood asthma severity and further highlight domestic endotoxin exposure effects on respiratory health outcomes in children with asthma.
BACKGROUND:Asthma severity can be affected by microbial exposures. However, less is known about the specific indoor agents aggravating the disease in children. We examined the associations between indoor endotoxin and beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan exposures and asthma severity in children with asthma. METHODS: A clinical cross-sectional study of schoolchildren (aged 7-17 years) was conducted in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Children with asthma (n = 116) were identified from 335 participants using a combination of survey responses and objective clinical assessments. We then ascertained asthma severity based on recommended guidelines (continuous daytime asthma symptoms, frequent nighttime asthma symptoms, and ≤ 60% predicted FEV1). Levels of indoor endotoxin and beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan were measured in dust samples obtained from play area floors and child's mattresses. RESULTS: The study population of 116 children with asthma was comprised of 75.9% mild asthma and 24.1% moderate/severe asthma. Higher mattress endotoxin concentration was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe asthma [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 11.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-89.43] while higher beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan concentration (aOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03-0.89) and load (aOR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.72) in play areas were inversely associated with moderate/severe asthma. Furthermore, higher mattress endotoxin concentration was associated with lower FVC (p = 0.01) and FEV1 (p = 0.03). These associations were not seen for beta-(1 → 3)-D-glucan. CONCLUSION: Our results showed differential effects of microbial exposures on childhood asthma severity and further highlight domestic endotoxin exposure effects on respiratory health outcomes in children with asthma.
Authors: Anne M Riederer; Jennifer E Krenz; Maria I Tchong-French; Elizabeth Torres; Adriana Perez; Lisa R Younglove; Karen L Jansen; David C Hardie; Stephanie A Farquhar; Paul D Sampson; Nervana Metwali; Peter S Thorne; Catherine J Karr Journal: Indoor Air Date: 2021-07-19 Impact factor: 5.770