Abstract

We aimed to study the associations between the household use of cleaning sprays and asthma symptoms and control of asthma, in females from the Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA).

Data were available for 683 females (44 years, 55% never smokers, 439 without asthma and 244 with current asthma). Both domestic exposures and asthma phenotypes (asthma symptom score, current asthma, poorly-controlled asthma (56%)) were evaluated as previously described in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Associations between the use of sprays and asthma phenotypes were evaluated using logistic and nominal regressions, adjusted for age, smoking, body mass index and occupational exposures.

Significant associations were observed between the weekly use of at least 2 types of sprays and a high asthma symptom score (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval] 2.50[1.54–4.03]) compared to a null score. Consistent results were observed for current asthma (1.67[1.08–2.56]) and poorly-controlled asthma (2.05[1.25–3.35]) compared to females without asthma. The association for current asthma was higher in females without avoidance of polluted places (2.12[1.27–3.54]) than in those reporting avoidance (0.99[0.53–1.85]).

The common use of household cleaning sprays is positively associated with a high asthma symptom score, current asthma and poorly-controlled asthma in females

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Comments

Further evidence from a communitiy study implicating cleaning sprays in the aetiology of asthma and its severity

4/20/2012