Analysis of correlation between indoor thermal environment and cardiovascular diseases in elderly during heating period

Wang Mei1, Zhang Xiaojing1, Xie Jingchao1, Yoshino Hiroshi2,Zhang Huibo3, Li Zhenhai4, Fan Guangtao5

2023.01.16

In order to explore the correlation between indoor thermal environment and cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, and to provide references for the design of healthy houses, the residential thermal environment and cardiovascular diseases of the elderly aged 60 years and over are investigated in Beijing, Shanghai, and Heilongjiang, respectively, from November 2016 to February 2017. From the perspective of objective thermal environment and subjective thermal sensation, the indoor thermal environment exposure of the elderly in the sick group and the control group is compared and analysed, and the correlation analysis between indoor temperature and blood pressure in the two groups is conducted. The results indicate that nearly half of the surveyed residential heating indoor temperature is lower than 16 ℃, but more than 70% of the elderly feels that the room is neither too cold nor too hot. For every 2 ℃ decrease in indoor temperature, the thermal resistance value of clothing for the elderly increases by 0.06 clo on average. Age, obesity/overweight, family genetic history of cardiovascular diseases, and air leakage from doors and windows are significantly correlated with the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. In the sick group, the cold sensation is relatively stronger than the control group in the room at night, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the time of getting up is significantly negatively correlated with the average bedroom temperature at night. SBP increases by about 3 mmHg for every 2 ℃ decrease in bedroom temperature. In order to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, the indoor thermal environment and air leakage from doors and windows should be improved, and the indoor heating temperature should be raised appropriately, especially at night.