The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of air filtration at reducing personal-level exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and mitigating related cardiovascular (CV) health effects among older adults in a residential facility in a representative US urban location. We enrolled 40 nonsmoking older adults into a randomized double-blind crossover intervention study with daily CV health outcomes and PM2.5 exposure measurements. The study was conducted in a low-income senior living apartment building in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Participants were exposed to three 3-day scenarios separated by one-week washout periods: unfiltered ambient air (control), low-efficiency (LE) "HEPA-type", and high-efficiency (HE) "true-HEPA" filtered air using air filtration systems in the bedroom and main living space of each residence. The primary outcome was brachial blood pressure (BP). Secondary outcomes included noninvasive aortic hemodynamics and pulse wave velocity and heart rate variability. PM2.5 exposures were measured in the participants' residences as well as by personal-level monitoring.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
Subjects were exposed to low-efficiency filtered air.
Subjects were exposed to high-efficiency filtered air.
Subjects were exposed to unfiltered air.
brachial blood pressure
Brachial blood pressure was measured using a BPTru device.
Time frame: at the same time between 8-10 AM on 3 consecutive days starting 24 hours after filter system placement
noninvasive aortic hemodynamics
Aortic hemodynamics was measured using a SphygmoCor device.
Time frame: at the same time between 8-10 AM on 3 consecutive days starting 24 hours after filter system placement
Pulse wave velocity
Pulse wave velocity was measured using a SphygmoCor device.
Time frame: at the same time between 8-10 AM on 3 consecutive days starting 24 hours after filter system placement
heart rate variability
Heart rate variability was measured using a SphygmoCor device.
Time frame: at the same time between 8-10 AM on 3 consecutive days starting 24 hours after filter system placement
microvasculature tone
Retinal photography was used to measure retinal arteriole diameters.
Time frame: at the same time between 8-10 AM on 3 consecutive days starting 24 hours after filter system placement
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