ABSTRACT
Objective To determine whether an environmental intervention tailored to each patient's allergic sensitization and environmental risk factors could improve asthma-related outcomes. Methods Irritant or allergen sensitivity determined by the patient's exposure history and confirmed with skin test. Patients were asked to record 2-week days without symptoms, days off-work(or school) and ?2-agonist puffs. Pulmonary function was also examined. Ninety-six asthmatics with atopic asthma (aged 16-78 years) were randomly assigned to a control group, an intervention group that received an educational handout monthly for 2 months. Asthmatics of both groups inhalded budesonide at a daily dose 200-800 ?g and ?2-agonist as needed. Environmental intervention lasted six months and included education and remediation for exposure to allergens. The control group had no special recommendations. Results The intervention group had more days without symptoms compared with the control group (13.4 vs.10.1days, P