Home warmth and health status of COPD patients.
BACKGROUND
Home Energy Efficiency guidelines recommend domestic indoor temperatures of 21 degrees C for at least 9 h per day in living areas. Is health status of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) associated with maintaining this level of warmth in their homes?


METHODS
In a cross-sectional observational study of patients, living in their own homes, living room (LR) and bedroom (BR) temperatures were measured at 30 min intervals over 1 week using electronic dataloggers. Health status was measured with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and EuroQol: EQ VAS. Outdoor temperatures were provided by Met Office.


RESULTS
One hundred and forty eight patients consented to temperature monitoring. Patients' mean age was 69 (SD 8.5) years, 67 (45%) male, mean percentage of predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV(1)) 41.7 (SD 17.4). Fifty-eight (39%) were current smokers. Independent of age, lung function, smoking and outdoor temperatures, poorer respiratory health status was significantly associated (P = 0.01) with fewer days with 9 h of warmth at 21 degrees C in the LR. A sub analysis showed that patients who smoked experienced more health effects than non-smokers (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Maintaining the warmth guideline of 21 degrees C in living areas for at least 9 h per day was associated with better health status for COPD patients. Patients who were continuing smokers were more vulnerable to reduction in warmth.
Osman
Liesl M
LM
Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Liberty Safe Work Research Centre, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen, AB252ZP, UK. med078@abdn.ac.uk
Ayres
Jon G
JG
Garden
Carole
C
Reglitz
Karen
K
Lyon
Janice
J
Douglas
J Graham
JG
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006361:Heating; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008834:Microclimate; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013696:Temperature