Indoor Air Quality

Elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) are associated with adverse health outcomes such as asthma exacerbations, cardiovascular issues, and respiratory diseases. This study focuses on air quality (AQ) exposures in rural and urban communities in Colorado's San Luis Valley (SLV) and West Denver (WD). This study will use an effectiveness-implementation study using a randomized stepped wedge study design to test a technological and behavioral intervention aimed at mitigating exposure to PM. Specifically, this study will test the effectiveness and implementation of air cleaners when deployed in low-resource rural and urban communities. It will address three aims: 1) Evaluate impacts of intervention on air cleaner adoption, use; 2) Evaluate impacts of air cleaners on exposure to indoor PM associated with ambient PM due to climate stressors; and 3) Evaluate impacts of air cleaners on health outcomes and biomarkers of exposures.

Particulate matter air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor of cardiovascular disease and is increasing in the Western United States due to more frequent and severe wildfires. Older adults are particularly susceptible to both air pollution exposures and the development of cardiovascular disease, and the older adult population in the United States is rapidly growing. Given the converging threats of worsening air quality and an aging population, this clinical trial will evaluate a novel, multifaceted indoor air quality intervention to improve cardiovascular health outcomes among older adults in the wildfire-impacted state of Montana.