Annual variations in indoor climate in the homes of elderly persons living in Dublin, Ireland and Tromso, Norway

Pereira

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

et al. 2013

The age of the European population is rising and percentage of adults aged 65 years and older is projected to increase from 16% in 2000 to 20% in 2020. It has been estimated that older subjects spend approximately 19 to 20 h/d indoors. Older individuals may be particularly at risk for detrimental effects from pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to reduced immunological defenses and multiple underlying chronic diseases. Six Porto, Portugal, urban area elderly care centers (ECC), housing a total of 425 older persons, were studied to assess indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort (TC) in two seasons. This study presents the IAQ and TC results in 36 rooms and constitutes part of a wider and ongoing study. The study areas were all naturally ventilated, and indoor concentrations in winter were within Portuguese reference values. However, 42% of the participants were dissatisfied with indoor thermal conditions, rating it "slightly cool." In summer, the index rate of dissatisfied individuals was lower (8%). Significant differences were found between seasons in predicted percent of dissatisfied people (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indices. Fungal concentrations frequently exceeded reference levels (>500 colony-forming units [CFU]/m 3 ). In addition, other pollutants occasionally exceeded reference levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Portugal to assess effects of indoor air contaminants on the health status and quality of life in older subjects living in ECC. Although IAQ and TC parameters were mostly within reference values, the results suggest a need to improve the balance between IAQ and TC in ECC, a critical environment housing a susceptible population.The air one breathes inside buildings dominates overall inhalation exposure of most air pollutants, whether of indoor or outdoor origin (Corsi et al., 2012). As levels of outdoor ambient pollution have decreased in many areas, the relative impact of indoor air pollution has grown, and thus indoor air quality (IAQ) has increasingly gained importance. Indoor environments are often considered to be among the healthiest and safest places, particularly for older individuals who possess unique health needs and environmental sensitivities. In addition to IAQ, thermal comfort (TC) is a key indoor factor that might affect comfort, health, and performance. TC is chiefly determined by temperature, humidity, and air Bradshaw et al., 2012). Older subjects may be particularly at risk of detrimental effects from air pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to their reduced immunological defenses and multiple underlying chronic diseases. Exposure to poor IAQ may produce or exacerbate eye irritation, nausea, upper respiratory complications, cognitive impairment, asthma, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer (Ferng and Lee, 2002). Thus, IAQ is a special concern for ECC residents, important for both health and quality of life.Risk assessment processes inadequately address susceptibi...

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort—Results of a Pilot Study in Elderly Care Centers in Portugal

Pereira

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

et al. 2013

“…Most AMI hospitalisations also occurred among people older than 65 years and some of them may have restricted mobility and remain mostly indoors. Nevertheless, a study from Norway found that mean room temperature in the living room, kitchen and bathroom is about 20°C throughout the year in households of the elderly, but the bedroom temperature varies with the outdoor temperature as people sleep with a window slightly opened [37]. This behaviour is also common in Sweden.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Ambient Temperature and Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalisations in Gothenburg, Sweden: 1985–2010

et al. 2013

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death globally and evidence is steadily increasing on the role of non-traditional risk factors such as meteorology and air pollution. Nevertheless, many research gaps remain, such as the association between these non-traditional risk factors and subtypes of CVD, such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of this study was to investigate the association between daily ambient temperature and AMI hospitalisations using a case-crossover design in Gothenburg, Sweden (1985–2010). A secondary analysis was also performed for out-of-hospital ischemic heart disease (IHD) deaths. Susceptible groups by age and sex were explored. The entire year as well as the warm (April−September) and cold periods (October–March) were considered. In total 28 215 AMI hospitalisations (of 22 475 people) and 21 082 out-of-hospital IHD deaths occurred during the 26-year study period. A linear exposure-response corresponding to a 3% and 7% decrease in AMI hospitalisations was observed for an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in the 2-day cumulative average of temperature during the entire year (11°C) and the warm period (6°C), respectively, with and without adjustment for PM10, NO2, NOx or O3. No heat waves occurred during the warm period. No evidence of an association in the cold period nor any association between temperature and IHD deaths in the entire year, warm or cold periods - with and without adjusting for PM10, NO2, NOx or O3 was found. No susceptible groups, based on age or sex, were identified either. The inverse association between temperature and AMI hospitalisations (entire year and warm period) in Gothenburg is in accordance with the majority of the few other studies that investigated this subtype of CVD.

J Epidemiol Community Health

“…A marginal effect of season8 and weather9 on MI incidence and CVD risk factor levels in the Tromsø population is probably due to the combination of high living standards and long-time climate-adaptive behavioural protection like wearing adequate clothing when being outdoors1 37 and having well-insulated buildings with throughout-the-year warm and stable indoor temperatures 38 39. Better protection against cold weather could prevent the winter excess in CVD and coronary heart disease mortality,1 all-cause mortality1 38 40 and seasonal variation in CVD risk factors,19 observed in milder climates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors in a subarctic population: the Tromsø Study 1979–2008

Hopstock

Barnett

Bønaa

et al. 2012