EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOLDS ON RISK OF DEATH FROM ASTHMA DURING THEPOLLEN SEASON

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.