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Evidence summaries

House Dust Control Measures for Asthma

Chemical and physical methods of reducing mite allergen levels appear to lack an effect in people with asthma. Level of evidence: "B"

55 trials with 3 121 patients were included in a Cochrane review [Abstract] 1. 37 trials assessed physical methods, 10 assessed chemical methods, and 8 a combination of chemical and physical methods. For the most frequently reported outcome, peak flow in the morning (1 665 patients), the SMD was -0.01 (95% CI -0.08 to 0.11). There were no statistically significant differences either in number of patients improved (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.27), asthma symptom scores (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.05), or in medication usage (SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.07).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment).

References

  • Gøtzsche PC, Johansen HK. House dust mite control measures for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;(2):CD001187 [Last assessed as up-to-date: 11 July 2011]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords