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Residential Indoor Temperatures and Health: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies
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Residential Indoor Temperatures and Health: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Janelle R. Edwards, Anneclaire J. De Roos, Chima C. Hampo, Wanyu Huang, Emily Lincoln, Simi Hoque and Leah H. Schinasi
Environmental health perspectives. Supplements, v 2024(1)
15 Aug 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1289/isee.2024.1788
url
https://doi.org/10.1289/isee.2024.1788View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM Adults spend the majority of their time indoors, especially in higher income countries. Yet, most research studies of associations between warm temperatures and health have assessed exposures using outdoor temperature measures. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the state of the science with respect to links between indoor residential heat exposures and mortality/morbidity outcomes, with particular attention to methods used to assess indoor temperature exposures. METHOD We systematically identified observational population-based studies of associations between high indoor residential temperatures and mortality/ morbidity outcomes and extracted information on geographic region where the study was conducted, the study population, mortality/morbidity outcomes, the methods used to estimate residential indoor temperature exposures, and thresholds identified across studies. RESULTS We identified 25 papers which conducted research in the following continents: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, or Africa. The most common health outcomes investigated in relation to indoor temperatures were cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity outcomes and thermal comfort. Indoor temperature exposure assessment methods included sensor data loggers, thermometers, data-driven models, and energy-based simulations. Empirically identified safe maximum thresholds for indoor temperature included 22°C for poor sleep and cognition in Boston, Massachusetts; 26°C for increases in respiratory distress calls in New York City, New York; and 28°C for poor thermal comfort and a range from 18°C to 24.3°C for poor perception of health and well-being in South Australia. CONCLUSIONS Results from this review can be used to inform the design of future studies describing associations between indoor temperatures and morbidity or mortality outcomes. As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, additional research is needed to identify safe indoor temperature thresholds to prevent morbidity outcomes and premature death.[¤]

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