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. 2000;2000(4):CD002154.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002154.

Feather vs. non-feather bedding for asthma

F Campbell  1 , K Jones
Affiliations

Feather vs. non-feather bedding for asthma

F Campbell et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000.

Abstract

Background: Two recent epidemiological studies have reported that children using non-feather pillows suffered from more frequent episodes of wheeze than those using feather pillows

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of using feather bedding in the control of asthma symptoms.

Search strategy: The Cochrane Airways Group asthma clinical trials register, derived from MEDLINE, EMBASE and hand searching of major journals, was searched using the terms: feather OR bed* OR linen* OR pillow

Selection criteria: Only randomised or controlled clinical trials were to be included.

Data collection and analysis: No trials met the inclusion criteria for the review.

Main results: 126 abstracts were identified. Ten of these were identified as possibly meeting the entry criteria, but on review of the full paper not were suitable. The reasons for exclusion were: not a randomised trial (n=6); allocation of bedding type combined with another intervention (n=4).

Reviewer's conclusions: Whilst recent epidemiological studies suggest that feather bedding is associated with less frequent wheeze than man-made fibre fillings, the evidence currently available is insufficient to assess the clinical benefits of feather bedding in the management of asthma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Nil

References

References to studies excluded from this review

Burr 1980 {published data only}
    1. Burr ML, St. Leger AS, Neale E. Anti‐mite measures in mite‐sensitive adult asthma. The Lancet 1976;1(7955):333‐5. - PubMed
Butland 1997 {published data only}
    1. Butland BK, Strachan DP, Anderson RH. The home environment and asthma symptoms in childhood: two population based case‐control studies 13 years apart. Thorax 1997;52:618‐24. - PMC - PubMed
Carter 2001 {published data only}
    1. Carter MC, Perzanowski MS, Raymond A, Platts‐Mills TA. Home intervention in the treatment of asthma among inner‐city children. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2001;108(5):732‐7. - PubMed
Chan‐Yeung 2002 {published data only}
    1. Chan‐Yeung M, Ferguson A, Dimich‐Ward H, Watson W, Manfreda J, Becker A. Effectiveness of and compliance to intervention measures in reducing house dust and cat allergen levels. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2002;88(1):52‐8. - PubMed
Crane 1997 {published data only}
    1. Crane J, Kemp T, Siebers R, Rains N, Fishwick D, Fitzharris P. Increased house dust mite allergen in synthetic pillows may explain increased wheezing. BMJ 1997;314:1763‐4. - PMC - PubMed
Gillies 1987 {published data only}
    1. Gillies DRN, Littlewood JM, Sarsfield JK. Controlled trial of house dust mite avoidance in children with mild to moderate asthma. Clinical Allergy 1987;17:105‐11. - PubMed
Hallam 1998 {published data only}
    1. Hallam C, Custovic A, SImpson B, Houghton N, Simpson A, Woodcock A. House dust mite allergen in feather and synthetic pillows. Allergy 1998;53(Suppl 43):27. - PubMed
Holm 2001 {published data only}
    1. Holm L, Öhmann S, Bengtsson A, Hage‐Hamsten M, Scheynius A. Effectiveness of occlusive bedding in the treatment of atopic dermatitis ‐ a placebo‐controlled trial of 12 months' duration. Allergy 2001;56:152‐8. - PubMed
Kemp 1996 {published data only}
    1. Kemp TJ, Siebers RW, Fishwick D, O'Grady GB, Fitzharris P, Crane J. House dust mite allergen in pillows. BMJ 1996;313:916. - PMC - PubMed
Korsgaard 1983 {published data only}
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Nafstad 2002 {published data only}
    1. Nafstad P, Nystad W, Jaakola JJK. The use of a feather quilt, childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis: a prospective cohort study. Clinical Experimental Allergy 2002;32:1150‐4. - PubMed
Rains 1999 {published data only}
    1. Rains N, Siebers R, Crane J, Fitzharris P. House dust mite allergen (Der p 1) accumulation on new synthetic and feather pillows. Clincial and Experimental Allergy 1999;29:182‐5. - PubMed
Strachan 1995 {published data only}
    1. Strachan DP, Carey IM. Home environment and severe asthma in adolescence: a population based case‐control study. BMJ 1995;311:1053‐6. - PMC - PubMed
Strachan 1997 {published data only}
    1. Strachan D, Carey IM. Reduced risk of wheezing in children using feather pillows is confirmed. BMJ 1997;314:518. - PMC - PubMed
Terreeghorst 2002 {published data only}
    1. Terreehorst I, Oosting AJ, Tampels‐Pavlica Z, Monchyr JG, Bruijnzeel‐Koomen CA, Hak E, et al. Prevalence and severity of allergic rhinitis in house dust mite‐allergic patients with bronchial asthma or atopic dernmatitis. Clinical Experimental Allergy 2002;32:1160‐5. - PubMed

Additional references

Gotzsche 2008
    1. Gøtzsche PC, Johansen HK, Schmidt LM, Burr ML. House dust mite control measures for asthma (Cochrane review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 2. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001187.pub3] - DOI - PubMed
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