@article{4b9b85bbc8c04f68a39315a4b85b50f9,
title = "Disparities of indoor temperature in winter: A cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Smart Wellness Housing Survey in Japan",
abstract = "The WHO Housing and health guidelines recommend a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C to prevent cold-related diseases. In Japan, indoor temperatures appear lower than in Euro-American countries because of low insulation standards and use of partial intermittent heating. This study investigated the actual status of indoor temperatures in Japan and the common characteristics of residents who live in cold homes. We conducted a nationwide real-world survey on indoor temperature for 2 weeks in winter. Cross-sectional analyses involving 2190 houses showed that average living room, changing room, and bedroom temperatures were 16.8°C, 13.0°C, and 12.8°C, respectively. Comparison of average living room temperature between prefectures revealed a maximum difference of 6.7°C (Hokkaido: 19.8°C, Kagawa: 13.1°C). Compared to the high-income group, the odds ratio for living room temperature falling below 18°C was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.04-1.84) and 2.07 (95% CI: 1.28-3.33) for the middle- and low-income groups. The odds ratio was 1.96 (95% CI: 1.19-3.22) for single-person households, compared to households living with housemates. Furthermore, lower room temperature was correlated with local heating device use and a larger amount of clothes. These results will be useful in the development of prevention strategies for residents who live in cold homes.",
keywords = "cross-sectional analysis, health disparity, housing, indoor temperature, socioeconomic status, winter",
author = "Wataru Umishio and Toshiharu Ikaga and Yoshihisa Fujino and Shintaro Ando and Tatsuhiko Kubo and Yukie Nakajima and Tanji Hoshi and Masaru Suzuki and Kazuomi Kario and Takesumi Yoshimura and Hiroshi Yoshino and Shuzo Murakami",
note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the numerous construction companies, study investigators, and research committee members throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan who participated in the Smart Wellness Housing (SWH) survey. Members of the research committee for the promotion of SWH who participated in this study are listed in Table S1. We also gratefully acknowledge Japan Sustainable Building Consortium (Mr Masatsugu Aoki et al) for the coordination of this study, and Satt Co., Ltd. and Youworks Co., Ltd. for data management. This study was partly supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as part of the Model Project for Promotion of SWH and a JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Numbers JP17H06151: Principal Investigator: Prof. Toshiharu Ikaga). The funding organization had no role in deciding the study design and conducting the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation of the article; or the decision to submit the article for publication. Funding Information: TI has received research grants from Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., HyAS & Co. Inc, Fuyo Home Co. Ltd., Asahi Kasei Homes Corp., OM Solar Co. Inc, Kajima Corp., Shimizu Corp., Nice Corp., Japan Gas Association, and Japan Sustainable Building Consortium. TH has received an honorarium from LIXIL Corp. MS has received non‐restrictive research funds from Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp. KK received a research grant from Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. The other authors have no competing interests. Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the numerous construction companies, study investigators, and research committee members throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan who participated in the Smart Wellness Housing (SWH) survey. Members of the research committee for the promotion of SWH who participated in this study are listed in Table S1. We also gratefully acknowledge Japan Sustainable Building Consortium (Mr Masatsugu Aoki et al) for the coordination of this study, and Satt Co., Ltd. and Youworks Co., Ltd. for data management. This study was partly supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as part of the Model Project for Promotion of SWH and a JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Numbers JP17H06151: Principal Investigator: Prof. Toshiharu Ikaga). The funding organization had no role in deciding the study design and conducting the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation of the article; or the decision to submit the article for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors. Indoor Air published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd",
year = "2020",
month = nov,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1111/ina.12708",
language = "English",
volume = "30",
pages = "1317--1328",
journal = "Indoor Air",
issn = "0905-6947",
publisher = "Blackwell Munksgaard",
number = "6",
}
