The New York City Puerto Rican Asthma Project: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Results, Journal of Asthma, Informa Healthcare

Issue TOC | Previous Article | Next Article

The New York City Puerto Rican Asthma Project: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Results

2008, Vol. 45, No. 1 , Pages 51-57 (doi:10.1080/02770900701815784)

Luis M. Acosta, M.D.¹, Dolores Acevedo-García, Ph.D.², Matthew S. Perzanowski, Ph.D.¹, Robert Mellins, M.D.³, Lindsay Rosenfeld, Sc.M.², Dharma Cortés, Ph.D.⁴, Andrew Gelman, Ph.D.⁵, Joanne K. Fagan, Ph.D.⁶, Luis A. Bracero, M.D.⁷, Juan C. Correa, M.D., M.P.H.⁸, Ann Marie Reardon, M.P.H.¹ and Ginger L. Chew, Sc.D.¹ ^†

¹Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

²Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachussetts, USA

³Pediatric Pulmonary Division, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA

⁴Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA

⁵Department of Statistics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

⁶Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA

⁷Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University Charleston Campus, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

⁸División de Salud Comunitaria, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia

^†Correspondence: Ginger L. Chew, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, B-1, New York, New York, 10032

Objective. We examined asthma risk factors among 274 Puerto Rican children born in New York to atopic mothers. Methods. We prospectively followed the cohort to measure aeroallergens in their homes and assess allergic sensitization. Baseline data are presented. Results. Maternal smoking was significantly higher among women born on the continental United States (25%) vs. those born elsewhere (11%). Cat ownership was more frequent among mainland-born women (15%) compared with those born in Puerto Rico (4%). While some aeroallergens were prevalent, few dust samples contained detectable dust mite allergens. Conclusions. By following this cohort, we hope to identify the roles that socio-cultural factors play in the process of allergic sensitization.