Using Residential Locations to Predict Health Risks from Roach and Rodent Exposure

Indoor pests such as cockroaches and rodents are significant contributors to various health problems, particularly asthma. These allergens, found in droppings, body parts, urine, and saliva of pests, can become airborne and trigger asthma attacks, especially in vulnerable populations like children. Childhood asthma remains the leading chronic disease among children in the US, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities. Despite known links, identifying environmental triggers like pests in homes can be challenging for healthcare providers.

Recent research from Boston University School of Public Health offers a novel approach to predicting exposure risks based solely on residential data. The study, published in the Annals of Epidemiology, utilized a modeling technique to connect electronic health records (EHR) detailing indoor environmental exposures with geospatial housing and neighborhood data for children with asthma in low-income areas. The findings showed that children residing in homes more likely to have cockroaches and rodents had notably reduced lung function.

Dr. Patricia Fabian, the study’s senior author, highlighted that existing medical records could help clinicians infer if a child's home environment poses a risk of allergen exposure, without the need for invasive home inspections. This approach not only aids in personalizing asthma management but also emphasizes preventive strategies addressing home risk factors.

The study also sheds light on broader social issues. The majority of affected children were Black, living in historically segregated neighborhoods, reflecting ongoing racial disparities in housing quality linked to systemic racism and policies like redlining. Such discriminatory practices have led to disinvestment in Black communities, fostering conditions conducive to pest infestations. Consequently, Black children are twice as likely to develop asthma and face higher mortality rates from the disease.

While some research suggests early exposure to indoor allergens may protect against asthma development, current evidence underscores that such allergens often worsen existing conditions. Pests like cockroaches and mice shed allergens that easily become airborne, making asthma management more difficult.

This study builds on prior work that applied machine learning and geospatial data to predict indoor asthma triggers. By linking these predictions to lung function tests across over a thousand children, researchers demonstrated a scalable method to assess environmental health risks at a granular level. The broader implication is that healthcare systems worldwide could adopt similar models to improve health outcomes related to housing and environmental hazards.

Advancements in satellite imaging, housing data collection, and environmental monitoring are expanding the capacity to connect health data with geospatial information. As a result, the potential to address health disparities rooted in housing conditions is significantly enhanced, paving the way for targeted, data-driven interventions.