Identification of Health Risk Factors and Their Parameters

Abstract

This chapter highlights the importance of identifying health risk factors and their parameters for healthier built environments. In Sect. 3.1, epidemiological terms such as "determinants of health", "health risk" and "health hazards", are introduced. In Sect. 3.2, health risk factors and their main parameters in built environments are further identified and classified into six groups: biological, chemical, physical, psychosocial, personal, and others. Detailed definition of health risk factors and their main parameters, followed by the results of epidemiological studies proving the association between potential health outcomes and health risk factors, are described in Sects. 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7. Identified and classified health risk factors and their parameters are the basis for the identification of single and multi-group interactions among them, described in Chap. 4.

Mental Health Outcomes Amongst Health Care Workers During COVID 19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

“…It is crucial not only to assess the mental health of HCWs but also associated factors or risk factors as these factors predict the probability of developing the condition, which is not recognized by the patient ( 18 ). A risk factor is any attribute, characteristic, or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease ( 19 ).…”

Association between Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Environmental Quality in Slovenian Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Statistical analyses of associations between self-assessment results, risk factors, and environmental measures also represent highly valuable information. The method enables fast identification of problematic areas, and consequently fast implementation of step-by-step measures and activities related to the renovation of buildings and systems, and to raising users’ awareness of activities aimed at planning healthy buildings and hospitals [3]. In order to improve the quality of the indoor environment, the building design has to be adapted to climate characteristics and changes [49].…”

“…Environmental health risk factors and their parameters are defined as stressors which occupants are exposed to in their living and working environments and might potentially have harmful effects on their health, comfort and productivity [1,2,3]. On the basis of a comprehensive systematic literature review of 313 scientific articles published between 1974 and 2019 [3], key parameters and their possible interactions within every group of health risk factors were identified and classified into: biological (moulds, bacteria, microbial volatile organic compounds, house dust); chemical (construction and household products, formaldehyde, phthalates, man-made mineral fibres, volatile organic compounds, odours, environmental tobacco smoke, other indoor air pollutants); physical (environmental parameters of thermal comfort, parameters related to building ventilation, noise, vibrations, daylight, electromagnetic fields, ions, ergonomics, universal design); psychosocial (occupational stress, social status, loneliness, helplessness, work organization, communication, supervision); personal (gender, individual characteristics, health status); and other (location, geo-pathogenic zones; building characteristics, ownership, presence of insect, rodents, use of insecticide, disinfection, rat-killing products) [3].…”

“…Most of the health risk factors and their parameters originate in the thermal, light, acoustic, olfactory and ergonomic environment; therefore, they are associated with indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues [3]. Health risk factors in a hospital setting have previously been investigated by many authors.…”

“…In the 1980s and 1990s, researchers mostly investigated physical health risk factors [10,11,12,13]. Conversely, more recent studies have focused not only on the identification of health risk factors in hospitals [14,15,16,17,18], but also on developing new approach strategies and innovative systems for their control and prevention [3,4,19].…”