Outdoor Allergen Exposure, Sensitivity, and Acute Asthma
Outdoor Allergen Exposure, Sensitivity, and Acute Asthma
To examine the role of outdoor pollen grains and fungal spores in the exacerbation of asthma
 and to produce forecasting models to predict days of high concentration.
Asthma is a growing problem, and outdoor allergens play a role in exacerbation of many cases.
 A clearer understanding of this role and its magnitude, and a means of controlling the
 effects of outdoor allergen exposures is needed. We propose Poisson time-series and
 conditional panel studies to test these hypotheses: 1) The incidence of acute asthma attacks,
 as measured by urgent care inhalation treatments and hospitalizations for asthma, has a
 dose-dependent relationship with exposure to specific outdoor allergens; 2) Specific
 sensitization to outdoor allergens is a risk factor for having an acute attack; and 3)
 Exposure conditions that lead to acute asthma attacks can be forecast, creating an
 opportunity to reduce asthma morbidity and mortality ny targeting pretreatment and/or
 exposure controls.
Must be a member of the Fallon HMO and be treated for acute asthma exacerbation.