Effects on patients with asthma of eradicating visible indoor mould: a randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: It is not clear whether associations between respiratory symptoms and indoor mould are causal. A randomised controlled trial was conducted to see whether asthma improves when indoor mould is removed. METHODS: Houses of patients with asthma were randomly allocated into two groups. In one group, indoor mould was removed, fungicide was applied and a fan was installed in the loft. In the control group, intervention was delayed for 12 months. Questionnaires were administered and peak expiratory flow rate was measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: Eighty-one houses were allocated to the intervention group and 83 to the control group; 95 participants in 68 intervention houses and 87 in 63 control houses supplied follow-up information. Peak expiratory flow rate variability declined in both groups, with no significant differences between them. At 6 months, significantly more of the intervention group showed a net improvement in wheeze affecting activities (difference between groups 25%, 95% CI 3% to 47%; p = 0.028), perceived improvement of breathing (52%, 95% CI 30% to 74%; p<0.0001) and perceived reduction in medication (59%, 95% CI 35% to 81%; p<0.0001). By 12 months the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions than the controls in preventer and reliever use, and more improvement in rhinitis (24%, 95% CI 9% to 39%; p = 0.001) and rhinoconjunctivitis (20%, 95% CI 5% to 36%; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no objective evidence of benefit, symptoms of asthma and rhinitis improved and medication use declined following removal of indoor mould. It is unlikely that this was entirely a placebo effect.
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There is substantial evidence that indoor allergens generated by house dust mite, mold and cat are triggers for both childhood and adult asthma, especially in those sensitized.
“There is substantial evidence to suggest that indoor allergens generated by house dust mite, mold and cat are triggers for both childhood and adult asthma, especially in those sensitized (100–102).”
From Epidemiology of Asthma in Children and Adults (2019) · cites this paper as [101]
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- Authors
- Burr, M. L., Matthews, I. P., Arthur, R. A., Watson, H. L., Gregory, C. J., Dunstan, F. D. J., & Palmer, S. R.
- Affiliations
- Cardiff University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Burr, M L
- Venue
- Thorax
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2007-09-01
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 767-772
- ISSN
- 0040-6376 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2117320
- OpenAlex
- W2119104852
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 7.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Thorax (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Office of Research and Development
- Asthma and Lung UK
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational exposure and asthma
- Keywords
- asthma, indoor mold, fungicides, peak expiratory flow variability, wheezing, rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma medication use, indoor air quality, placebo effect
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Air Conditioning, Asthma, Female, Fungi, Household Articles, Housing, Humans, Humidity, Male, Respiration, Temperature, Air Pollution, Indoor
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