Garland Elizabeth, Steenburgh Erin Thanik, Sanchez Sadie H, Geevarughese Anita, Bluestone Les, Rothenberg Laura, Rialdi Alexander, Foley Mary
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA.
Prog Community Health Partnersh. 2013 Spring;7(1):29-37. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2013.0010.
Green housing reduces energy costs and may mitigate indoor allergens and pollutants, improving asthma morbidity. High asthma burden is seen in low-income neighborhoods. Past studies show improvements in respiratory symptoms when living in green homes.
Develop partnership with Blue Sea Development Company to determine impacts of living in Melrose Commons V (MCV), a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified affordable housing complex, on asthma in the South Bronx.
Participants completed a home-based respiratory health questionnaire before moving into MCV. Follow-up occurred at 6, 12, and 18 months post-move. A home-based educational module was delivered on indoor environmental interventions to avoid asthma triggers. A pretest was given before the module and a posttest was given 9 months later, including an evaluation of behavioral practice changes.
Outcomes included decreases in continuous daily respiratory symptoms (p < .001), asthma symptoms disrupting sleep in the past month (p = .028), and urgent visits to a healthcare professional for asthma in the past 3 months (p = .038). Clinically relevant outcomes included fewer days with asthma symptoms; asthma episodes; days of work, school, or daycare missed; and emergency department visits. Education changes from pretest to posttest included increased knowledge about dust mites, roaches, mold, and chemical irritants (p = .007). Common behavioral changes included using hypoallergenic mattress covers, using green cleaning products, and eliminating bedroom carpets.
Findings support the beneficial effect of LEED Platinum-certified buildings on respiratory health. Trends may be clinically and economically relevant. Advocacy efforts should promote the expansion of green housing and emphasize the development of healthy communities.
绿色住宅可降低能源成本，并可能减轻室内过敏原和污染物，改善哮喘发病率。在低收入社区中哮喘负担较高。过去的研究表明，居住在绿色住宅中时呼吸道症状会有所改善。
与蓝海开发公司建立合作关系，以确定居住在能源与环境设计先锋（LEED）白金认证的经济适用房综合体梅尔罗斯公地V（MCV）对南布朗克斯区哮喘的影响。
参与者在搬入MCV之前完成了一份基于家庭的呼吸健康问卷。在搬入后的6个月、12个月和18个月进行随访。提供了一个基于家庭的关于室内环境干预措施的教育模块，以避免哮喘诱因。在该模块之前进行了预测试，并在9个月后进行了后测试，包括对行为实践变化的评估。
结果包括持续每日呼吸道症状减少（p <.001）、过去一个月中干扰睡眠的哮喘症状减少（p =.028）以及过去3个月中因哮喘紧急就医的次数减少（p =.038）。临床相关结果包括哮喘症状天数减少；哮喘发作次数减少；错过工作、学校或日托的天数减少；以及急诊就诊次数减少。从预测试到后测试的教育变化包括对尘螨、蟑螂、霉菌和化学刺激物的了解增加（p =.007）。常见的行为变化包括使用低敏床垫套、使用绿色清洁产品以及去除卧室地毯。
研究结果支持LEED白金认证建筑对呼吸健康的有益影响。这些趋势可能在临床和经济方面具有相关性。宣传工作应促进绿色住宅的扩展，并强调健康社区的发展。
