Risk Factors for Developing Asthma

 Genetic characteristics
 Occupational exposures
 Environmental exposures
Risk Factors for Developing Asthma:
Genetic Characteristics

Atopy
 The body’s predisposition to develop an antibody
called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in response to
exposure to environmental allergens
 Can be measured in the blood
 Includes allergic rhinitis, asthma, hay fever, and
eczema
 Risk Factors for Developing Asthma:
Environmental Exposure

Clearing the Air:

Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures
http://www.iom.edu (Publications)
Institute of Medicine, 2000
Committee on the Assessment of Asthma and Indoor Air
Review of current evidence about indoor air exposures
and asthma
 Clearing the Air:
Categories for Associations of Various
Elements

 Sufficient evidence of a causal relationship

 Sufficient evidence of an association
 Limited or suggested evidence of an
association
 Inadequate or insufficient evidence to
determine whether an association exists
 Limited or suggestive evidence of no
association
 Clearing the Air:
Indoor Air Exposures & Asthma Development
Biological Agents Chemical Agents
 Sufficient evidence of causal  Sufficient evidence of causal
relationship relationship
 None found
 House dust mite

 Sufficient evidence of association

 Sufficient evidence of association
 Environmental Tobacco Smoke
 None found (among pre-school aged children)

 Limited or suggestive evidence of  Limited or suggestive evidence of

association association
 Cockroach (among pre-school aged  None found
children)
 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
 Clearing the Air:
Indoor Air Exposures & Asthma Exacerbation
Biological Agents Chemical Agents
 Sufficient evidence of causal  Sufficient evidence of causal
relationship
relationship  Environmental tobacco smoke
 Cat (among pre-school aged children)
 Cockroach  Sufficient evidence of
 House dust mite
association
 NO , NO (high levels)
2 X
 Sufficient evidence of an association 
Limited or suggestive evidence
 Dog of association
 Fungus/Molds  Environmental Tobacco Smoke
(among school-aged, older children,
 Rhinovirus and adults)
 Limited or suggestive evidence of  Formaldehyde
association  Fragrances
 Domestic birds
 Chlamydia and Mycoplasma pneumonia
 RSV