More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma
Open accessAbstract
Background: New Zealand homes are underheated by international standards, with average indoor temperatures below the WHO recommended minimum of 18°C. Research has highlighted the connection between low indoor temperatures and adverse health outcomes, including social functioning and psychological well-being. Both health effects and social effects can impact on school absence rates. The aim of this study was to determine whether more effective home heating affects school absence for children with asthma. Methods: A single-blinded randomised controlled trial of heating intervention in 409 households containing an asthmatic child aged 6–12 years, where the previous heating was an open fire, plug-in electric heater or unflued gas heater. The intervention was the installation of a more effective heater of at least 6 kW before the winter of 2006 in half the houses. Demographic and health information was collected both before and after the intervention. Each child's school was contacted directly and term-by-term absence information for that child obtained for 2006 and previous years where available. Results: Complete absence data were obtained for 269 out of 409 children. Compared with the control group, children in households receiving the intervention experienced on average 21% (p=0.02) fewer days of absence after allowing for the effects of other factors. Conclusion: More effective, non-indoor polluting heating reduces school absence for asthmatic children.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Independently measured school absences were reduced by 21% in the Housing, Heating and Health Study.
“Independently measured school absences were reduced by 21% (42).”
From Review of the Impact of Housing Quality on Inequalities in Health and Well-Being (2023) · cites this paper as [42]
Cites
Effect of insulating existing houses on health inequality: cluster randomised study in the community
Howden-Chapman, P., Matheson, A., Crane, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., Blakely, T., Cunningham, C., Woodward, A., Saville-Smith, K., O'Dea, D., et al. (2007) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.39070.573032.80 · Cited by 521 · see citing works
Self-citationKrieger, J. W., Takaro, T. K., Song, L., & Weaver, M. (2005) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2004.042994 · Cited by 413 · see citing works
Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures
Swanson, M. C. (2001) · Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology · doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62329-0 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
House dust mite exposure as a cause of asthma
Sporik, R. B., Chapman, M. D., & Platts‐Mills, T. A. E. (1992) · Clinical & Experimental Allergy · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1992.tb02062.x · Cited by 284 · see citing works
Howden‐Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Nicholls, S., Bennett, J., Viggers, H. E., Cunningham, M. J., Phipps, R., Boulic, M., Fjällström, P., Free, S., et al. (2008) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.a1411 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Self-citationDiette, G. B., Markson, L. E., Skinner, E. A., Nguyen, T. T. H., Algatt-Bergstrom, P. J., & Wu, A. W. (2000) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.154.9.923 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
The Relationship Between School Absence, Academic Performance, and Asthma Status
Moonie, S. A., Sterling, D. A., Figgs, L. W., & Castro, M. (2008) · Journal of School Health · doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00276.x · Cited by 273 · see citing works
The Effects of Ambient Air Pollution on School Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Illnesses
Gilliland, F. D., Berhane, K., Rappaport, E. B., Thomas, D. C., Avol, E., Gauderman, W. J., London, S. J., Margolis, H. G., McConnell, R., Islam, K. T., et al. (2001) · Epidemiology · doi:10.1097/00001648-200101000-00009 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Asthma Status and Severity Affects Missed School Days
Moonie, S. A., Sterling, D. A., Figgs, L. W., & Castro, M. (2006) · Journal of School Health · doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00062.x · Cited by 263 · see citing works
The determinants of sexual intercourse before age 16
Paul, C., Fitzjohn, J., Herbison, P., & Dickson, N. P. (2000) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/s1054-139x(99)00095-6 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Reduction in Asthma Morbidity in Children as a Result of Home Remediation Aimed at Moisture Sources
Kercsmar, C. M., Dearborn, D. G., Schluchter, M., Xue, L., Kirchner, H. L., Sobolewski, J., Greenberg, S. J., Vesper, S. J., & Allan, T. (2006) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.8742 · Cited by 245 · see citing works
Direct and indirect costs of asthma in school-age children.
Wang, L. Y., Zhong, Y., & Wheeler, L. S. M. (2005) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Relationship of Adherence to Pediatric Asthma Morbidity Among Inner-City Children
Bauman, L. J., Wright, E. C., Leickly, F. E., Crain, E. F., Kruszon‐Moran, D., Wade, S. L., & Visness, C. M. (2002) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.110.1.e6 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Synthesis of Environmental Evidence: Nitrogen Dioxide Epidemiology Studies
Hasselblad, V., Eddy, D. M., & Kotchmar, D. J. (1992) · Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association · doi:10.1080/10473289.1992.10467018 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Unequal Lives: Health and Socioeconomic Inequalities
Graham, H. M., Kar, N., & Singh, S. (2008) · Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care · doi:10.1108/17570980200800023 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
The Causes, Views and Traits of School Absenteeism and Truancy
Reid, K. (2005) · Research in Education · doi:10.7227/rie.74.6 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Water balance and humidity requirements of house dust mites
Arlian, L. G. (1992) · Experimental and Applied Acarology · doi:10.1007/bf01201490 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Childhood asthma and student performance at school
Taras, H., & Potts-Datema, W. (2005) · Journal of School Health · doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.tb07347.x · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Clark, N. M., Brown, R. W., Joseph, C. L. M., Anderson, E. W., Liu, M., & Valerio, M. A. (2004) · CHEST Journal · doi:10.1378/chest.125.5.1674 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Warm homes: Drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New Zealand
Howden‐Chapman, P., Viggers, H. E., Chapman, R., O’Dea, D., Free, S., & O’Sullivan, K. C. (2009) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.12.023 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Self-citationKeeping warm and staying well: findings from the qualitative arm of the Warm Homes Project
Harrington, B., Heyman, B., Merleau-Ponty, N., et al. (2005) · Health & Social Care in the Community · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00558.x · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Trends and determinants of excess winter mortality in New Zealand: 1980 to 2000
Davie, G. S., Baker, M. G., Hales, S., & Carlin, J. B. (2007) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-263 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
How is the indoor environment related to asthma?: literature review
Richardson, G., Eick, S., & Jones, R. (2005) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03591.x · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Effects on patients with asthma of eradicating visible indoor mould: a randomised controlled trial
Burr, M. L., Matthews, I. P., Arthur, R. A., Watson, H. L., Gregory, C. J., Dunstan, F. D. J., & Palmer, S. R. (2007) · Thorax · doi:10.1136/thx.2006.070847 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Fleming, T. M., Merry, S., Robinson, E. M., Denny, S., & Watson, P. D. (2007) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/00048670601050481 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
The role of environmental factors in asthma
Strachan, D. P. (2000) · British Medical Bulletin · doi:10.1258/0007142001903562 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Howden‐Chapman, P., Crane, J., Matheson, A., Viggers, H. E., Cunningham, M. J., Blakely, T. A., O’Dea, D., Cunningham, C. W., Woodward, A. J., Saville‐Smith, K., et al. (2005) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.049 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Self-citationPilotto, L. (2004) · International Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/ije/dyh018 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Does Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Increase Airways Responsiveness?
Folinsbee, L. J. (1992) · Toxicology and Industrial Health · doi:10.1177/074823379200800505 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Somerville, M., Mackenzie, I., Owen, P., & Miles, D. (2000) · Public Health · doi:10.1038/sj.ph.1900687 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Mouldy houses influence symptoms of asthma among atopic individuals
Dharmage, S. C., Bailey, M., Raven, J. M., Abeyawickrama, K., Cao, D., Guest, D. I., Rolland, J. M., Forbes, A. B., Thien, F. C. K., Abramson, M. J., et al. (2002) · Clinical & Experimental Allergy · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2222.2002.01371.x · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Hispanic Children With Asthma: Morbidity
Wood, P. R., Hidalgo, H. A., Prihoda, T. J., et al. (1993) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.91.1.62 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Home is where the heart is--most of the time.
Baker, M., Keall, M., Au, E. L., & Howden‐Chapman, P. (2007) · PubMed · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationImpact of comorbid affective and alcohol use disorders on suicidal ideation and attempts
Waller, S. J., Lyons, J. S., & Costantini-Ferrando, M. F. (1999) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199905)55:5 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Children With Asthma Miss More School
Millard, M., Johnson, P. T., Hilton, A., & Hart, M. (2008) · CHEST Journal · doi:10.1378/chest.08-1642 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
On the edge of adulthood: young people’s school and out-of-school experiences at 16
Wylie, C. (2009) · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Pagers Combined With Telephones Improve Successful Follow-up From a Pediatric Emergency Department
Kim, I. K., Lanni, K. A., Collazo, E. R., et al. (2002) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.110.1.e1 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Antisocial Behaviours in New Zealand Youth: Prevalence, Interventions and Promising New Directions
Curtis, N. M., Ronan, K. R., Heiblum, N., et al. (2002) · New Zealand journal of psychology · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Review of the Impact of Housing Quality on Inequalities in Health and Well-Being
Howden-Chapman, P., Bennett, J., Edwards, R., Jacobs, D., Nathan, K., & Ormandy, D. (2023) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-071521-111836 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Self-citationPoor housing quality: Prevalence and health effects
Baker, E., Lester, L. H., Bentley, R., & Beer, A. (2016) · Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community · doi:10.1080/10852352.2016.1197714 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Ingham, T., Keall, M., Jones, B., Aldridge, D. R. T., Dowell, A. C., Davies, C., Crane, J., Draper, J. B., Bailey, L. O., Viggers, H., et al. (2019) · Thorax · doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212979 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Self-citationWell Homes Initiative: A Home-Based Intervention to Address Housing-Related Ill Health
Pierse, N., White, M., Ombler, J., Davis, C., Chisholm, E., Baker, M., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2020) · Health Education & Behavior · doi:10.1177/1090198120911612 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., & the Housing, H. A. H. S. R. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Otago (NZ)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2009-09-23
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 379-386
- ISSN
- 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
- 0143-005X
- 1470-2738
- OpenAlex
- W2110731240
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Victoria University of Wellington
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Energy and Environment Impacts
- Keywords
- residential heating, indoor temperature, asthma, school absenteeism, children, open fires, indoor air pollution, New Zealand
- MeSH terms
- Absenteeism, Asthma, Child, Cold Temperature, Heating, Housing, Humans, New Zealand, Schools, Single-Blind Method
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
