HEPA Filters for Cardiometabolic Health

Overseen By Junfeng Zhang, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Southern California

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Alzheimer's, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

52 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether using HEPA filters (High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters) at home can improve heart and metabolic health by reducing exposure to tiny air particles, known as PM2.5. Participants will begin with either real or fake HEPA filters and switch after six months to assess any health improvements. The trial seeks non-smokers aged 65 to 84 living in Los Angeles County, with a history of being overweight, and without diabetes or active cancer treatment. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to significant research on environmental health and potentially enhance their own well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that HEPA filters are safe for improving cardiometabolic health?

Research has shown that HEPA filters are safe for home use. Studies have found that HEPA air purifiers can help lower blood pressure in adults with high levels, suggesting they might improve heart health without causing harm. HEPA filters trap tiny particles in the air, reducing the spread of diseases and controlling infections. Overall, using HEPA filters at home is well-tolerated and poses minimal risk to users. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the use of HEPA filters for cardiometabolic health because these filters offer a unique, non-invasive approach to improving health. Unlike traditional treatments that may rely on medication or lifestyle changes, HEPA filters work by reducing airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) in the home. By filtering out these tiny particles, HEPA filters aim to reduce inflammation and improve heart and metabolic health without the need for drugs or intensive lifestyle interventions. This innovative approach could provide a complementary method to enhance cardiometabolic health with minimal effort from the patient.

What evidence suggests that HEPA filters are effective for improving cardiometabolic health?

This trial will compare the effects of HEPA filters and sham filters on cardiometabolic health. Research has shown that using HEPA filters at home can improve heart and blood vessel health. Studies have consistently found that HEPA air purifiers can lower systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, in people with high levels. One study found a significant drop in blood pressure when people used HEPA filters at home. Another study showed that HEPA filters effectively reduced exposure to tiny air pollution particles, which also helped lower blood pressure. These findings suggest that HEPA filters may benefit heart health, especially for those exposed to indoor air pollution. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Zhanghua Chen, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Southern California

Junfeng Zhang, PhD

Principal Investigator

Duke University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people aged 65-84 living in Los Angeles County who are overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 historically), non-smokers for at least a year, have Wi-Fi at home, and speak English or Spanish. It's not for those with active cancer treatment, plans to move soon, certain health conditions, homes unsuitable for air purifiers or already equipped with HEPA filters.

Inclusion Criteria

Nonsmoker for at least 1 year

History of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 in the past based on EMR information

Live in the Los Angeles County

Exclusion Criteria

Have high blood glucose from finger stick test (> 200 mg/dL)

The residential house has already had HEPA filters

Participants will move out of the current house in the next 2 years

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

HEPA Intervention

Participants receive HEPA filters to reduce PM2.5 levels at their residence for 6 months

6 months

Multiple home visits for setup and data collection

Wash-out

A 6-month wash-out period where no intervention is applied

6 months

Sham Intervention

Participants receive sham filters without the capacity to reduce PM2.5 levels for 6 months

6 months

Multiple home visits for setup and data collection

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• HEPA filter
• Sham filter

Trial Overview The study tests if using HEPA filters in the home can improve heart and metabolic health by reducing fine particle pollution indoors. Participants will be randomly assigned to use either a real HEPA filter or a fake one without knowing which they have.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: HEPA first and sham Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

This group of participants will be assigned an intervention of HEPA filters with the capacity to reduce PM2.5 levels at their residence for 6 months. After 6-month wash-out period, will be assigned to sham filters for 6 months.

Group II: Sham first and HEPA Placebo Group 2 Interventions

This group of participants will be assigned an intervention of sham filters without the capacity to reduce PM2.5 levels at their residence for 6 months. After 6-month wash-out period, will be assigned to HEPA filters for 6 months.

HEPA filter is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as HEPA filter for:

• Air purification for reducing PM2.5 exposures
• Improvement of cardiometabolic health

Approved in European Union as HEPA filter for:

• Air purification for reducing PM2.5 exposures
• Improvement of cardiometabolic health

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Southern California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Duke University

Collaborator

Trials

2,495

Recruited

5,912,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a pilot study involving 20 elderly cardiac patients, the use of active portable air cleaners (PACs) significantly reduced personal PM2.5 exposure by 43.8% compared to sham devices, indicating their effectiveness in improving air quality for at-risk individuals.

The findings suggest that using inexpensive in-home PACs could lead to substantial long-term health benefits for cardiac patients by potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, even in areas with generally good air quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduced Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures Using In-Home Portable Air Cleaners: PILOT RESULTS OF THE CARDIAC REHABILITATION AIR FILTER TRIAL (CRAFT). Bard, RL., Rubenfire, M., Fink, S., et al.[2021]

Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is recognized as a significant risk factor for heart and lung diseases, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions.

Personal-level strategies to reduce PM2.5 exposure have shown potential health benefits, and further randomized clinical trials are necessary to assess their feasibility and efficacy, especially in vulnerable populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiopulmonary Impact of Particulate Air Pollution in High-Risk Populations: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Newman, JD., Bhatt, DL., Rajagopalan, S., et al.[2023]

The new inertial impaction filters can remove up to 97.77% of PM2.5 and 99.47% of PM10 particles at an airflow velocity of 8.0 m/s, demonstrating high efficiency in particulate matter removal.

These filters have a significantly low pressure drop of 5-10 Pa and high quality factor values, making them more effective and less obstructive compared to traditional air filters, which could lead to better public health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-performance inertial impaction filters for particulate matter removal. Zhang, X., Zhang, W., Yi, M., et al.[2023]

In a study involving six healthy volunteers, the use of portable HEPA filters during exercise testing significantly reduced aerosol concentrations by up to 96% across all particle sizes, indicating their effectiveness in minimizing airborne particles during physical activity.

The portable HEPA filter also decreased aerosol clearance time in a clinical exercise testing laboratory by 47% compared to using HVAC alone, suggesting it could enhance safety by reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in such settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigation of Aerosols Generated During Exercise Testing With a Portable High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter With Fume Hood. Garzona-Navas, A., Sajgalik, P., Csécs, I., et al.[2021]

Exposure to diesel engine exhaust significantly reduced exercise capacity in heart failure patients, as shown by decreased VO2, six-minute walking test distance, and O2Pulse during exercise.

Using a respiratory filter during exposure to diesel exhaust improved VO2 and O2Pulse in heart failure patients, suggesting that filtration can mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution on exercise performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of reducing exposure to air pollution on submaximal cardiopulmonary test in patients with heart failure: Analysis of the randomized, double-blind and controlled FILTER-HF trial. Vieira, JL., Guimaraes, GV., de Andre, PA., et al.[2022]

A study of over 155,000 ischemic stroke admissions among Medicare recipients found that short-term increases in PM10 particulate matter were associated with a 1.03% increase in admissions on the same day, indicating a potential risk factor for ischemic stroke.

In contrast, no significant association was found between particulate matter and hemorrhagic stroke admissions, suggesting that air pollution may specifically impact the risk of ischemic strokes rather than hemorrhagic ones.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Air pollution and hospital admissions for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among medicare beneficiaries. Wellenius, GA., Schwartz, J., Mittleman, MA.[2016]

The RAPIDS study demonstrated that high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters significantly reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 60% and personal PM2.5 exposures by 53% among senior citizens in Detroit, indicating their effectiveness in improving air quality and potentially cardiovascular health.

Low-efficiency (HEPA-type) filters also provided benefits, reducing indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 52% and personal exposures by 31%, suggesting that even less efficient filters can contribute to lowering harmful air pollution levels indoors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduction of personal PM2.5 exposure via indoor air filtration systems in Detroit: an intervention study. Maestas, MM., Brook, RD., Ziemba, RA., et al.[2021]

A study involving 30 healthy subjects showed that a vehicle cabin air filter with active charcoal significantly reduced diesel exhaust (DE) particulate matter and harmful gases, leading to fewer reported symptoms compared to unfiltered air.

The active charcoal filter reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and hydrocarbon concentrations by 75% and 50%, respectively, while also demonstrating less inflammatory effects on lung cells, indicating its potential to protect against the harmful effects of diesel exhaust.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of the capacity of vehicle cabin air inlet filters to reduce diesel exhaust-induced symptoms in human volunteers. Muala, A., Sehlstedt, M., Bion, A., et al.[2022]

Recent studies show that particle filtration in homes and commercial buildings can lead to statistically significant improvements in health symptoms, particularly for individuals with allergies or asthma, with percentage improvements typically ranging from 7% to 25%.

Filtered air delivered directly to the breathing zone of allergic or asthmatic individuals is more effective than general room air filtration, and modeling suggests that reducing indoor exposure to outdoor particles could significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health benefits of particle filtration. Fisk, WJ.[2022]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40767818/

Effect of HEPA Filtration Air Purifiers on Blood Pressure Conclusions: The use of in-home HEPA air purifiers resulted in clinically important reductions in SBP for people with elevated SBP in ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7611692/

Effectiveness of indoor air purification intervention in ... This study found potential evidence on the short-term cardiovascular benefits of using indoor air purifiers, especially for SBP, PP and RHI.

3. acc.org acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/08/06/15/32/Air-Purifiers-May-Reduce-Heart-Risks-for-People-Exposed-to-Traffic-Pollution

Air Purifiers May Reduce Heart Risks for People Exposed ... Study finds in-home HEPA air filters significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in adults with elevated readings ; JACC: Advances, JACC: Asia, ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2701629

Effect of Portable Air Filtration Systems on Personal ... Results of this study showed that short-term use of portable air filtration systems reduced personal PM 2.5 exposures and systolic BP among older adults.

5. acc.org acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2025/08/06/13/03/use-of-hepa-purifiers

Use of HEPA Purifiers at Home Can Significantly Reduce ... Using portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers at home can significantly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adults with ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8453120/

A randomized crossover trial of HEPA air filtration to reduce ... The primary health outcome will be systolic blood pressure (BP); secondary outcome measures will include diastolic and central BP, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and ...

7. news-medical.net news-medical.net/news/20250813/HEPA-filtration-reduces-blood-pressure-for-highway-residents.aspx

HEPA filtration reduces blood pressure for highway residents New research reveals that a simple home air purifier could be a powerful tool for cutting high blood pressure and protecting heart health ...

8. hepacart.com hepacart.com/blog/clean-air-the-effectiveness-of-hepa-filtration-systems-in-healthcare

Clean Air: The Effectiveness of HEPA Filtration Systems in ... HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micrometers, reduce disease spread, and help with infection control.