Warm homes for older people: aims and methods of a randomised community-based trial for people with COPD

BMC Public Health

Julian Crane¹  Michael Baker⁵  Jane Zhang⁵  Helen Wilson⁵  Nevil Pierse⁵  Ann Currie²  Cheryl Davies⁴  Gina Pene⁵  Ralph Chapman³  Tristram Ingham¹  Philippa Howden-Chapman⁵  Helen Viggers⁵ 

[1] Department of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 7343, Wellington, Wellington South, New Zealand;Community and Public Health, Canterbury District Health Board, 310 Manchester St, Christchurch, New Zealand;School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand;Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust, 7-9 Barnes St, Seaview, Lower Hutt, New Zealand;He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago, PO Box 7343, Wellington, Wellington South, New Zealand

关键词: Randomised community trial;    Fuel poverty;    Health;    Housing;    New Zealand, COPD;   

Others  :  1162503
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-176

 received in 2012-12-21, accepted in 2013-02-05,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is of increasing importance with about one in four people estimated to be diagnosed with COPD during their lifetime. None of the existing medications for COPD has been shown to have much effect on the long-term decline in lung function and there have been few recent pharmacotherapeutic advances. Identifying preventive interventions that can reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations could have important public health benefits. The Warm Homes for Elder New Zealanders study is a community-based trial, designed to test whether a NZ$500 electricity voucher paid into the electricity account of older people with COPD, with the expressed aim of enabling them to keep their homes warm, results in reduced exacerbations and hospitalisation rates. It will also examine whether these subsidies are cost-beneficial.

Methods

Participants had a clinician diagnosis of COPD and had either been hospitalised or taken steroids or antibiotics for COPD in the previous three years; their median age was 71 years. Participants were recruited from three communities between 2009 to early 2011. Where possible, participants’ houses were retrofitted with insulation. After baseline data were received, participants were randomised to either ‘early’ or ‘late’ intervention groups. The intervention was a voucher of $500 directly credited to the participants’ electricity company account. Early group participants received the voucher the first winter they were enrolled in the study, late participants during the second winter. Objective measures included spirometry and indoor temperatures and subjective measures included questions about participant health and wellbeing, heating, medication and visits to health professionals. Objective health care usage data included hospitalisation and primary care visits. Assessments of electricity use were obtained through electricity companies using unique customer numbers.

Discussion

This community trial has successfully enrolled 522 older people with COPD. Baseline data showed that, despite having a chronic respiratory illness, participants are frequently cold in their houses and economise on heating.

Trial Registration

The clinical trial registration is http://NCT01627418 webcite

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Viggers et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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