Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess whether non-polluting, more effective home heating (heat pump, wood pellet burner, flued gas) has a positive effect on the health of children with asthma.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Households in five communities in New Zealand.

Participants

409 children aged 6-12 years with doctor diagnosed asthma.

Interventions

Installation of a non-polluting, more effective home heater before winter. The control group received a replacement heater at the end of the trial.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was change in lung function (peak expiratory flow rate and forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV(1)). Secondary outcomes were child reported respiratory tract symptoms and daily use of preventer and reliever d

SUBMITTER: Howden-Chapman P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2658826 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature