Data were collected by survey of dwelling condition, interviews, and audit health centre records of children aged under seven years.
Data on dwelling condition and the availability of cleaning materials were obtained through an inspection of the dwelling by an environmental health officer or housing officer.
Three data collection processes were used: 1) a survey of dwelling condition; 2) interviews with the main householder of each dwelling and with the main carer of each child aged under seven years; and 3) an audit of health centre records.
All associations reported above were independent of age, sex, education, employment status, smoking, season of examination, area deprivation, dwelling type, dwelling conditions and depression.
People with chronic disease, reported significantly more air pollution problems after adjustment for modeled levels of nitrogen dioxides, socio-demographic variables, smoking, depression, dwelling conditions and an area deprivation index, even if they had a non-respiratory disease.
* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 In the full model, where self reported pollution due to wood or oil heating, factory etc., dwelling conditions and depression were included, there were some reductions in the previous significant estimates (employment status was no longer significant), but the associations for quintiles of NO2 and APP were still strong, although slightly reduced.
In the full model (column b, logistic regression), the inclusion of self reported pollution due to wood or oil heating, factory etc., dwelling conditions and depression, led to reduced associations and CHD (p = 0.082) and osteoporosis (p = 0.080) were no longer significant at the 0.05-level.
Independent associations were found between asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibromyalgia and self reported poor health; and APP, whereas independent associations between coronary heart disease and osteoporosis and APP were conditional on the presence of either self reported pollution due to wood or oil heating, factory etc., dwelling conditions or depression.
The study also evaluated coping resources in the four study locations, based on dwelling conditions, the prevalence of home air conditioning and relationships with neighbours.
Dwelling conditions are fair to good by Chinese standards.
Small living spaces and poor dwelling conditions are risk factors of heat-related health conditions.
