Developing and Evaluating an Indoor Air Pollution Intervention Among Cardiovascular Patients: the AIRWISE Study

Developing and Evaluating an Indoor Air Pollution Intervention Among Cardiovascular Patients: the AIRWISE Study

This pilot study (n=20) is a prospective evaluation of the implementation of an indoor air pollution intervention among adults 55 years of age or older. The intervention, called Air Improvement and Real-time Monitoring for Wellness through Interactive Strategies and Education (AIRWISE), is focused on improving indoor air quality through air filtration, education, and behavioral recommendations. All participants will receive the AIRWISE intervention with the objective of evaluating acceptance and use of the individual intervention components. This implementation study will inform the submission of a larger NIH proposal for a randomized trial. The central study hypothesis is that an intervention program with educational strategies and visual behavioral cues will increase knowledge and awareness of air pollution exposures among the participants and lead to improved intervention compliance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult of at least 55 years of age
• One primary residence (5+ days per week)
• Own a computer or electronic device (tablet or phone with web browser), and reliable internet connection or cell phone service (required to submit study surveys)
• Access to a working email address (required to submit study surveys)
• Electricity in the home (required to power the study equipment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current smoking of any kind (tobacco, cannabis, vape pens, cigars, etc.) or living in a household with someone who currently smokes
• Current use of stand-alone home high efficiency purified air (HEPA) filtration or PAC unit in the home
• Intention to move in the next 6 months
• Another person in the household is enrolled in this study (one person per household can enroll)
• Having any health condition that prevents the participants from having blood pressure measured using an upper-arm cuff: lymphedema, paresis or paralysis, arterial or venous lines/catheters, dialysis shunt, recent surgical wounds, or mastectomy