A study published in Pediatrics (March 2001) concluded that reducing indoor pollutants and allergens in the home could substantially lower asthma rates in young children. The authors estimated that improved indoor air quality might reduce the incidence of asthma in children under six years of age by nearly 40%—a change that could translate to more than 500,000 fewer cases nationwide.
The analysis was based on data from more than 8,000 children who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III), a large, nationally representative survey of health and nutrition in children and adults. Among children under six years of age, just under 6% had physician-diagnosed asthma.
Several indoor exposures were strongly associated with asthma risk. Children with a history of pet allergies were found to be 24 times more likely to have asthma than children without pet allergies, accounting for an estimated 350,000 asthma cases in this age group. Exposure to tobacco smoke was associated with approximately 177,000 additional cases, while the use of gas stoves was linked with an estimated 59,000 cases.
Asthma affects more than four million children in the United States and is the most common chronic illness of childhood. Between 1980 and 1993, asthma prevalence increased by approximately 75%, with most of the rise occurring in children under five years of age. Each year, asthma accounts for roughly three million physician visits, more than 500,000 emergency room visits, and about 150,000 hospitalizations. Despite advances in treatment, asthma remains a serious condition, contributing to approximately 150 deaths annually in children under 15.
These findings suggest that environmental factors within the home play a significant role in childhood asthma risk. Addressing indoor air quality, allergens, and pollutant exposures may represent an important opportunity to reduce the burden of asthma in young children.
