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Anti-allergic mattress covers have no clinical benefit in patients with moderate to severe asthma
August 27, 2002The use of anti-allergic mattress covers shows no clinical improvement in patients with moderate to severe asthma, who already use regular treatment. However, they do reduce the exposition of house dust mite during the night, shows research in Thorax.
Thirty non-smoking patients with asthma and house dust mite allergy were included in the study. Sixteen patients used anti-allergic mattress covers for 1 year (treated group) and 14 used matching placebo mattress covers (placebo group). All patients had smooth bedroom floors and continued their normal medication.
Dust samples from the mattress covers were collected before and after the study to determine concentrations of house dust mite allergen (Der p 1), and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and quality of life were measured. Patients also scored their symptoms (lung and nose), morning and evening peak flow values, and medication use throughout the study.
In the treated group, Der p 1 concentrations on the mattresses were significantly lower after 1 year. In the placebo group there was no significant reduction in Der p 1. In both the treated and placebo groups there was no significant improvement in histamine levels, while quality of life improved similarly in both groups.
The symptom score of the lower airways did not significantly change in either group. A significant decrease in nasal symptoms was seen in the treated group compared with before treatment, but there was no significant difference between the groups. No changes in morning and evening peak flow values, nor in the use of medication were found in either group.
Taken together, the data suggest that although anti-allergic mattress covers are effective in reducing house dust mite exposure during the night, this reduction did not result in clinical improvement in patients with moderate to severe asthma, say the authors. This lack of effect may be due to the chronic stage of the asthma and/or limiting the avoidance measures to the bedroom.
Future studies should explore whether night time and daytime avoidance measures in the early stages of the disease are more effective, they conclude.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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UI researchers find potentially toxic substance present in Chicago air
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