The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the results of a study conclusively demonstrating a combination of clinical and home interventions reduces the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
The study was conducted over three years by the Clinical Directors
Network (CDN) and funded by EPA, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). CDN looked at pediatric patients in minority communities through sixteen HRSA-funded health clinics. The centers are located in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan in New York; Camden and Bridgeton in New Jersey; St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Mayaguez, Santurce, Patillas and Castaner in Puerto Rico; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Kansas City, Missouri. CDN evaluated the effectiveness of asthma interventions in both private homes and clinics.
Results showed using mattress and pillow covers significantly lowered emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Emergency room visits also decreased when cleaning practices such as dusting in front of asthmatic children were changed.
Getting rid of cockroach problems also had a major positive impact. Follow-up calls made after the interventions revealed that participants continued to maintain the use of pest- control products and mattress covers received through the interventions. Parents also remained aware of environmental risk factors, such as cockroaches and dust mites.
For more information on the initiation and background of the project, please refer to http://www.cdnetwork.org/NewCDN/PDFS/EPA_Asthma_20.pdf |
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