Adding Air Quality Index information to help children with asthma
Official title: Pollution Intervention to Impact Kids Asthma Study
Run by University of Pittsburgh · NCT07261423 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether adding EPA or commercial Air Quality Index (AQI) information to asthma action plans helps children aged 8–17 with asthma have fewer flare-ups and better control.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 351 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Pittsburgh Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 2030 |
| Study ends | January 2030 |
| Registry record updated | February 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07261423 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children aged 8–17 who live in Allegheny County, PA, have persistent asthma (Steps 2–5) or intermittent asthma with at least one severe exacerbation in the past year, have had a healthcare provider evaluation in the prior year, and have home access to a smartphone or internet.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with other active chronic respiratory diseases, neuromuscular disorders, significant mobility limitations, or those planning to relocate from Allegheny County within 12 months may not receive benefit or be eligible to participate.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Children with asthma will be randomized to receive either EPA-AQI information, commercial-AQI information, or standard care alongside standardized outdoor air pollution education and an asthma action plan. Participants will provide nasal and blood specimens and have follow-up contacts every four weeks for 48 weeks, with 10 phone visits and three in-person visits. The trial will compare asthma outcomes over time across the three groups and will examine nasal gene expression changes in children who report heightened sensitivity to outdoor air pollution. The study is conducted at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and enrolls residents of Allegheny County, PA aged 8–17 with a recent healthcare evaluation for asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding AQI information to action plans could help families reduce exposure and lower the frequency or severity of asthma attacks in children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational studies link air pollution alerts to reduced exposures and symptom changes, but randomized trials inserting AQI information into pediatric asthma action plans are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * A healthcare provider diagnosis of persistent asthma (Steps 2-5 as defined by US guidelines) or intermittent asthma (Step 1) + at least one severe asthma exacerbation (defined by American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria as requiring at least 3 days of systemic steroids or an Emergency Department/Urgent Care visit requiring systemic steroids) in the prior 12 months * Home access to a smartphone or internet * Primary residence in Allegheny County, PA * One participant per household * Age 8 -17 years * Healthcare provider evaluation for asthma in the prior year Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of other active chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, etc.) * Neuromuscular disorder * Chronic disorder limiting independent ambulation (e.g., spastic quadriplegia, etc.) * Cyanotic heart disease * Plans to relocate from Allegheny County, PA in the next year (12 months) * Use of intranasal or oral/intramuscular/intravenous corticosteroids 4 weeks prior to randomization * Current participation in another asthma intervention trial
Where it's running
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UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Franziska Rosser, MD MPH — University of Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Pediatric Asthma Center
- Email: franziska.rosser2@chp.edu
- Phone: 877-296-9026
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.