CAPPS

The Canadian Asthma Primary Prevention Study (CAPPS) is a controlled study undertaken to determine how effective a multifaceted intervention program in the primary prevention of asthma in high-risk infants.

High-risk infants, defined as those with at least 1 first-degree relative with asthma or 2 first-degree relatives with other IgE-mediated allergic diseases, were identified in prenatal clinics.
The study was carried out in two centers in Canada: Vancouver, British Columbia, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Based on the above criteria, in Vancouver 271 were enrolled in the study. In Winnipeg,  274 were enrolled.

Visits were carried out before the birth of the infant, and at 2 weeks and 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months, 7 years, and 15 years after birth. Information was collected via physician assessments, questionnaires, and home assessments.

A computer-generated list of random numbers was used to determine allocation into intervention or control groups, separately for each center. A statistician placed the group allocation for each identification number in a sealed envelope. In total, 278 mothers were randomly allocated to the intervention group and 267 to the control (usual care) group.

Our intervention included measures to reduce exposure to house dust mite and pet allergens, avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke, encouragement of breastfeeding, and the use of a partially hydrolyzed formula.

Publications: 

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995 Oct;75(4):325-30.
Major cat allergen (Fel d I) levels in the homes of patients with asthma and their relationship to sensitization to cat dander.
Quirce S, Dimich-Ward H, Chan H, Ferguson A, Becker A, Manfreda J, Simons E, Chan-Yeung M.

Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2008: 19: 482–489. 
Early environmental determinants of asthma risk in a high-risk birth cohort.
Chan-Yeung M, Hegele RG, Dimich-Ward H, Ferguson A, SchulzerM, Chan H, Watson W, Becker A.