OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded from being cold, damp and mouldy to being comfortably warm, dry and mould free throughout. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in BP, general health and financial status. RESULTS: In the intervention subjects, systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell very significantly (p<0.000). There was also an improvement in general health as reported subjectively, and as indicated by a reduction in the use of medication and in hospital admissions. In addition, there was a markedly reduced expenditure on heating costs and other previous expenses. There were no changes in the control subjects in any of these measures. CONCLUSION: Improving the thermal quality of housing to eliminate damp and mould and produce a comfortable temperature throughout the house has a major impact on the health of the residents. There are also financial benefits for the residents, and indirectly for the NHS.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded from being cold, damp and mouldy to being comfortably warm, dry and mould free throughout. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in BP, general health and financial status. RESULTS: In the intervention subjects, systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell very significantly (p<0.000). There was also an improvement in general health as reported subjectively, and as indicated by a reduction in the use of medication and in hospital admissions. In addition, there was a markedly reduced expenditure on heating costs and other previous expenses. There were no changes in the control subjects in any of these measures. CONCLUSION: Improving the thermal quality of housing to eliminate damp and mould and produce a comfortable temperature throughout the house has a major impact on the health of the residents. There are also financial benefits for the residents, and indirectly for the NHS.
Authors: Matthew E Falagas; Drosos E Karageorgopoulos; Lambros I Moraitis; Evridiki K Vouloumanou; Nikos Roussos; George Peppas; Petros I Rafailidis Journal: CMAJ Date: 2009-09-21 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Mario Sims; Kiarri N Kershaw; Khadijah Breathett; Elizabeth A Jackson; Lisa M Lewis; Mahasin S Mujahid; Shakira F Suglia Journal: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes Date: 2020-07-15