Urban hypothermia: preferred temperature and thermal perception in old age.

Collins, Kenneth J.; Exton‐Smith, A. N.; Doré, Caroline J

doi:10.1136/bmj.282.6259.175

Cited by 160 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In contrast, the thermal environment in the wards was too hot and dry for staff members, and not a comfortable working space. One reason for the difference between these two groups is that sensitivity to change in air temperature declines with age (Collins, 1981). Moreover, the large difference in the amount of activity between patients and staff likely produced differences in the subjective responses about the thermal environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Environment and Subjective Responses of Patients and Staff in a Hospital during Winter

Hashiguchi

Hirakawa²,

Tochihara

et al. 2005

J. Physiol. Anthropol.

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The purpose of this study was to ascertain the actual conditions of the thermal environment and the symptoms of patient and staff (nurses and nurses' aides) during winter in a hospital. We measured the ambient temperature and humidity in sickrooms, nurse stations, and corridors. The subjects included 36 patients and 45 staff members. The existence of low humidity environments (relative humidity was less than 40%) in a hospital during winter was confirmed, and the levels of low humidity reached those known to promote the spread of influenza viruses. Thermal comfort of patients was not directly connected to the low humidity in sickrooms. However, 54.9% and 73.4% of patients were conscious of itchy skin and thirst, respectively. The majority of the staff members were working with itchy skin and thirst. These results suggested that extreme low humidity in a hospital during winter presents problem that should be solved quickly.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Environment and Subjective Responses of Patients and Staff in a Hospital during Winter

Hashiguchi

Hirakawa²,

Tochihara

et al. 2005

J. Physiol. Anthropol.

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“…However, the clothing insulation was found to be lower than that of young adults. A study by Collins et al 24 showed that when given control over their environment, older adults preferred the same mean comfort temperature (22-23 °C) but manipulated ambient temperature much less precisely than the young. According to Cena et al 25 , studies give support to PMV, even in non-standard groups such as older adults.…”

Section: Ageing and Thermal Comfortmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal comfort and older adults

Hoof

Hensen²

2006

Gerontechnology

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Manuscript prepared as a "shortie" (permission editor-in-chief, max 2500 words). ABSTRACTThe majority of the increasing number of older adults wish to age-in-place.Appropriate and comfortable housing is of great importance to facilitate this desire. One of the aspects of concern is thermal comfort. This is normally assessed using the model of Fanger, however one might ask if this model is sufficiently accurate to be used for older adults. This paper provides a short overview of the model, its applicability and implementation, and discusses the need for state-of-the-art air-conditioning systems to offer older adults the best possible indoor climate.

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“…Because of sweat production, dehydration typically accompanies heat stress and subsequent increases in body temperature (8,45,68). Notably, mild dehydration (i.e., Յ2% body weight loss) is usually associated with impairments in various aspects of cognitive function, including aspects of attention (5), memory (7,15,20), and executive function (6,7,20).…”

Section: Other Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive and perceptual responses during passive heat stress in younger and older adults

Schlader

Gagnon

Adams

et al. 2015

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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We tested the hypothesis that attention, memory, and executive function are impaired to a greater extent in passively heat-stressed older adults than in passively heatstressed younger adults. In a randomized, crossover design, 15 older (age: 69 Ϯ 5 yr) and 14 younger (age: 30 Ϯ 4 yr) healthy subjects underwent passive heat stress and time control trials. Cognitive tests (outcomes: accuracy and reaction time) from the CANTAB battery evaluated attention [rapid visual processing (RVP), choice reaction time (CRT)], memory [spatial span (SSP), pattern recognition memory (PRM)], and executive function [one touch stockings of Cambridge (OTS)]. Testing was undertaken on two occasions during each trial, at baseline and after internal temperature had increased by 1.0 Ϯ 0.2°C or after a time control period. For tests that measured attention, reaction time during RVP and CRT was slower (P Յ 0.01) in the older group. During heat stress, RVP reaction time improved (P Ͻ 0.01) in both groups. Heat stress had no effect (P Ն 0.09) on RVP or CRT accuracy in either group. For tests that measured memory, accuracy on SSP and PRM was lower (P Ͻ 0.01) in the older group, but there was no effect of heat stress (P Ն 0.14). For tests that measured executive function, overall, accuracy on OTS was lower, and reaction time was slower in the older group (P Յ 0.05). Reaction time generally improved during heat stress, but there was no effect of heat stress on accuracy in either group. These data indicate that moderate increases in body temperature during passive heat stress do not differentially compromise cognitive function in younger and older adults. cognitive function; aging; hyperthermia; thermal comfort ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF ϳ65 YR are at an increased risk of illness, injury, hospitalization, and death during heat waves (23, 29, 33-36, 63, 64). Age-related impairments in physiological responses to heat stress undoubtedly contribute to this increased risk (32). Heat-stressed older adults have attenuated increases in skin blood flow (30, 31) and sweating (26, 27), as well as impaired cardiovascular adjustments (42, 43). However, both physiological and psychological states influence health and safety (52, 53). Thus, a variety of factors may mediate the deleterious outcomes observed in the older population during heat waves.Healthy aging is associated with a general cognitive decline (49). Aspects of memory (4, 10, 12), attention (1, 12, 40), executive functioning (12,58,60), and processing speed (59) are typically [but not always (37, 48)] impaired with advancing age. This chronological cognitive decline may contribute to the risk of deleterious outcomes during heat waves in older adults by, for instance, leading to poor decision-making. Interestingly, perhaps because of the deleterious impact of heat stress on cerebral blood flow (46, 61) and/or disruptions in cerebral functional connectivity (66), many cognitive processes are impaired in heat-stressed younger adults [e.g., aspects of attention (19, 22, 65), memory (6, 19, 28, 41, 54), an...

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Urban hypothermia: preferred temperature and thermal perception in old age.

Cited by 160 publications

References 4 publications

Thermal Environment and Subjective Responses of Patients and Staff in a Hospital during Winter

Thermal Environment and Subjective Responses of Patients and Staff in a Hospital during Winter

Thermal comfort and older adults

Cognitive and perceptual responses during passive heat stress in younger and older adults

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