Housing and Environment Improvements for Lung and Chronic Diseases

(HEALTHe Trial)

Overseen By Joy R Ledvina, Program Director, MBA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Non-English speakers, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 18

460 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how changes in housing and neighborhood environments affect lung and chronic health conditions. It examines the impact of public housing renovations, neighborhood improvements, and indoor air purification, either individually or in combination. The goal is to determine which approach is most effective and cost-efficient. This trial targets residents of specific public housing sites in Birmingham, Alabama, who face lung or chronic health issues. Participants will experience various combinations of housing and neighborhood upgrades or air purification systems. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance community health and living conditions.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

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

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that improving housing conditions can lead to better lung health. Studies have found that repairing poor-quality homes or relocating to better ones can enhance breathing. Poor housing often results in bad indoor air, which can harm the lungs.

Several studies suggest that cleaning indoor air can help people with long-term breathing problems like asthma. Cleaner indoor air can reduce symptoms and decrease the need for medication, especially in areas with high pollution.

Regarding neighborhoods, research indicates that better environments, such as more parks, are linked to healthier lungs. Living in run-down areas can worsen lung problems, so improving neighborhoods might help people breathe easier.

Overall, these changes are generally well-received and positively impact lung health and long-term illnesses. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how improving living environments can impact lung and chronic diseases. Unlike traditional treatments that may rely on medication or medical devices, this trial focuses on enhancing indoor air quality and upgrading housing and neighborhood conditions. These approaches aim to address the root environmental factors contributing to health issues, potentially offering a sustainable and holistic way to improve patient outcomes. By studying these non-medical interventions, researchers hope to find innovative solutions that complement existing treatments and create healthier living spaces.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for lung and chronic diseases?

Research has shown that improving indoor air quality can benefit lung health. In this trial, participants in the Collegeville Community arm will receive indoor air purification, which studies have found can ease asthma and COPD symptoms, leading to better breathing. Participants in the Southtown Court Community arm will receive new public housing, which can help individuals with long-term lung issues exercise more and feel better overall. The Elyton Village Community arm will receive both an improved neighborhood environment and indoor air purification, while the Smithfield Court Community arm will receive new public housing and an improved neighborhood environment. Improving neighborhoods is crucial; areas with cleaner environments experience fewer lung problems. These efforts collectively aim to create healthier living spaces and enhance lung health. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gabriela R Oates, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults aged 18 and older who live in one of four specified public housing sites in Birmingham, Alabama. It's not open to those under 18, non-English speakers, or residents outside these locations.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive interventions such as public housing renovation, neighborhood improvements, and/or indoor air purification

12 months

Baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health-related behaviors, stress, and lung health

12 months

12 months, 24 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Housing Improvements
• Indoor Air Purification
• Neighborhood Improvements

Trial Overview The study examines the health impact of renovating public housing and improving neighborhood environments versus using indoor air purifiers. It looks at behavior changes, stress levels, and lung/chronic disease markers to see which approach is more cost-effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Elyton Village Community Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will receive improved neighborhood environment (built and social) and indoor air purification.

Group II: Southtown Court Community Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive new public housing.

Group III: Smithfield Court Community Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will receive new public housing and improved neighborhood environment (built and social).

Group IV: Collegeville Community Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive indoor air purification.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Collaborator

Trials

623

Recruited

10,400,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 6-month study involving 116 former smokers with COPD, 76.1% of participants adhered to using portable air cleaners at least 80% of the time, which could potentially improve their respiratory health by reducing indoor pollutants.

Factors such as higher household income and using electric heating were linked to better adherence, while lower quality of life and recent exacerbations were associated with lower adherence, indicating that socioeconomic and health status play crucial roles in the effectiveness of air cleaner interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patterns and Predictors of Air Cleaner Adherence Among Adults with COPD. Lorizio, W., Woo, H., McCormack, MC., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9724887/

Effectiveness of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation Compared to usual care, home-PR significantly improved exercise capacity (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.88, 95% CI 0.32–1.44; p=0.002) ...

2. atsjournals.org atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.202410-2080ST

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Home-based monitoring holds promises to improve the access, quality, and experience of care for patients with chronic lung disease and could also improve ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954611122001925

Effect of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program ... The aims of this study are to evaluate the efficacy of home-based PR on functional capacity and health-related quality of life in people with ILD.

4. bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-07779-9

Effectiveness of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation ... This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of home-based PR (HBPR) programs for COPD patients.

5. apm.amegroups.org apm.amegroups.org/article/view/49425/html

Long-term efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation with home ... PR with maintenance programs appears to be more effective than without maintenance for preserving exercise capacity in the long-term in patients with COPD.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5479958/

Different types of housing and respiratory health outcomes Living in mobile home was associated with worse, whereas living in apartments was associated with better, respiratory health outcomes.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10461733/

The impact of poor housing and indoor air quality on ... Research has shown that addressing poor-quality housing by either rehousing or making modifications to the home results in improved respiratory ...

8. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/2815

Housing Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Disease The results show that effects of poor housing conditions on occupants' respiratory health is a growing research field, where poor indoor air quality, mainly due ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213260022002284

Series Home monitoring in interstitial lung diseases Home monitoring in ILD has the potential to improve access to specialist care, reduce the burden on health-care systems, improve quality of life for patients, ...