Home dampness, beta-2 adrenergic receptor genetic polymorphisms, and asthma phenotypes in children
Journal
Environmental Research
Journal Volume
118
Pages
72-78
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Dampness in the home is a strong risk factor for respiratory symptoms and constitutes a significant public health issue in subtropical areas. However, little is known about the effects of dampness and genetic polymorphisms on asthma. Methods: In 2007, 6078 schoolchildren were evaluated using a standard questionnaire with regard to information about respiratory symptoms and environmental exposure. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of home dampness and beta-2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene polymorphisms on the prevalence of asthma and selected indicators of severity of asthma. Results: The frequency of mildewy odor, the number of walls with water stamp, and the duration of water damage were all associated with being awakened at night due to wheezing. However, no other clear-cut associations were found for any of the other indicators of asthma. Children exposed to mildewy odor with ADRB2 Arg/Arg genotype were associated with being awakened at night due to wheezing (OR=1.95, 95% CI, 1.14-3.36), compared to those without exposure and with the ADRB2 Gly allele. ADRB2 Arg16Gly showed a significant interactive effect with home dampness on being awakened at night due to wheezing and current wheezing, but no significant effect on active asthma and medication use. Frequency and degree of home dampness were also associated with the prevalence of asthma and selected indicators of severity of asthma, in an exposure-response manner among children with ADRB2 Arg/Arg genotype. Conclusions: Home dampness prevention is one of the important steps of asthma control, especially in children carrying ADRB2 Arg/Arg genotypes. ? 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Subjects
ADRB2; Asthma; Beta-2 adrenergic receptor; Gene-environmental interaction; Home dampness
SDGs
Other Subjects
beta 2 adrenergic receptor; asthma; child health; damping; disease control; disease prevalence; disease severity; genotype-environment interaction; health risk; odor; polymorphism; questionnaire survey; regression analysis; risk factor; subtropical region; symptom; adolescent; allele; article; asthma; child; disease severity; DNA polymorphism; environmental exposure; female; genetic analysis; genotype; home dampness; home environment; human; major clinical study; male; phenotype; prevalence; priority journal; questionnaire; school child; wheezing; Asthma; Child; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; Residence Characteristics; Water
Type
journal article