KEY POINTS:
Improving heating options in homes dramatically improves the health of asthmatics, according to the findings of an Otago University study.
The Housing, Heating and Health Study, led by University of Otago Wellington researcher Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, was carried out in 412 New Zealand homes over the winters of 2005 and 2006.
It found the health of asthmatic children improved significantly when ineffective heaters were replaced with cleaner, more cost-effective heating sources.
Households in the Hutt Valley, Porirua, Christchurch, Dunedin and Bluff took part in the study.
Each household had asthmatic children aged 6 to 12 years. The main forms of heating were plug-in electric heaters or unflued gas heaters.
The latest findings follow internationally acclaimed research by Professor Howden-Chapman's team which showed the savings in health costs that could be achieved by insulating homes. The savings achieved outweighed the cost of installing the insulation by almost two to one.
The latest results were significant, with the health benefits achieved having a major impact on the asthmatics and their families, Professor Howden-Chapman said.
"We found that the positive changes recorded in the health of these children were equivalent to a significant pharmaceutical intervention.
"Coughing and wheezing were reduced and they experienced fewer colds and flu during the winter. This resulted in fewer GP visits and days off school."
During the 2005 winter, part of the sponsors' funding was used to insulate the 65 per cent of homes that were not already insulated, before collecting baseline data. This included average temperatures, condensation, the amount of mould and levels of nitrogen dioxide - in addition to the data related to children's health.
The heating in half the houses was then upgraded before the 2006 winter. Households had the choice of installing a heat pump, wood-pellet burner or a flued gas heater. A year later, new heaters were also installed in the remaining houses.
Professor Howden-Chapman said the average daily indoor temperature increased between 1C and 2C and more than 40 per cent of the participants never felt cold during winter, compared to 5 per cent before.
"Condensation was reduced and, as you would expect, there was also less mould and fewer unpleasant damp smells in the homes."
- NZPA
