Pv. Targonski et al., EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOLDS ON RISK OF DEATH FROM ASTHMA DURING THEPOLLEN SEASON, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 95(5), 1995, pp. 955-961
Objective: Many studies have noted an association of ambient aeroaller
gen levels with exacerbation of asthma. This study was undertaken to e
xamine the relationship of aeroallergen levels with asthma-related mor
tality in Chicago. Methods: The association of environmental aeroaller
gen levels with death caused by asthma among 5- to 34-year-olds in Chi
cago was examined for the period of 1985 through 1989. Logistic regres
sion analysis was used to compare the probability of a death caused by
asthma occurring on the basis of environmental tree, grass, or ragwee
d pollen and mold spore levels. Results: Mean mold spore levels but no
t tree, grass, or ragweed pollen levels were significantly highs for d
ays on which asthma-related death occurred than for days on which no d
eaths occurred (z = 2.80, p < 0.005). The odds of a death caused by as
thma occurring on days with mold spore counts of 1000 spores per cubic
meter or greater was 2.16 times higher (95% confidence interval = 1.3
1, 3.56, p = 0.003) than on days on which mold spore counts were less
than 1000 spores per cubic meter The association with mold spore level
s remained significant on multivariate logistic regression with mold s
pore counts measured as a continuous variable and controlling for poll
ens, with the odds of an asthma-related death occurring being 1.2 time
s higher (95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.34) for every increase of 1
000 spores per cubic meter in daily mold spore levels. Conclusion: Alt
hough death caused by asthma also involves personal, social, and medic
al access factors, these data suggest that exposure to environmental m
olds may play a role in asthma-related mortality and should be conside
red in prevention strategies.