Table 1.
Population Characteristics of Study Participants
| Variables | GCPCR (n=235) | PEEPS (N=46) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N= | % of total | N= | % of total | |
| Higher annual asthma symptom frequency | 44 | 18.7% | 7 | 15.2% |
| Black/African American | 116 | 49.4% | 34 | 73.9% |
| Caucasian/white | 98 | 41.7% | 12 | 26.0% |
| Other/mixed race | 21 | 8.9% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Male sex | 141 | 60.0% | 31 | 67.3% |
| High DEP exposure (>0.464ug/m3) | 59 | 25.1% | 15 | 32.6% |
| Second-hand smoke exposure | 114 | 48.5% | 34 | 73.9% |
| Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis | 187 | 79.6% | 35 | 76.1% |
| Any positive SPT | 166 | 70.6% | 37 | 92.5% |
| Public insurance | 114 | 48.5% | 27 | 58.7% |
| Annual family income < $40K | 135 | 57.4% | 34 | 75.6% |
| Maternal education < high school | 21 | 8.9% | 7 | 15.6% |
| Currently prescribed ICS or leukotrienes | 166 | 70.6% | 33 | 71.4% |
| Imperfect adherence over last 2 weeks | 86 | 44.8% | 21 | 53.9% |
| Mean | Std Dev | Mean | Std Dev | |
| Age (range 5–18 years) | 10.0 | 3.1 | 9.8 | 2.7 |
Children with allergic asthma from the GCPCR and PEES are included. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (yes/no), skin prick test (+/−), age at study consent, race, sex, annual family income, type of health insurance (public vs. private/self-pay), maternal education, being prescribed asthma controllers, adherence to asthma medication over the prior two weeks and second-hand smoke exposure were determined by questionnaire or electronic medical record. Severe asthma was defined as having 1 or more symptoms that occur at least 6−7 days a week compared to others with less frequent symptoms. High DEP is based on the highest quartile of elemental carbon attributable to traffic (ECAT; 0.464ug/m3) estimated at the children’s current home address. Children with >24 pg/ml serum IL-17A were considered as having high levels of IL-17A.