Testing HEPA Air Filters to Improve Heart and Metabolic Health by Reducing Indoor Air Pollution in Adults 65 to 84 Years Old

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether using HEPA air filters indoors can improve heart and metabolic health by lowering harmful fine particle pollution PM2.5 in adults at risk for cardiometabolic problems. This randomized, double-blind crossover trial focuses on non-diabetic adults aged 65 to 84 years living in Los Angeles County who have a history of overweight or obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active HEPA filters that reduce PM2.5 levels or sham filters without this capability for 6 months. After a 6-month washout period, participants will switch to the other intervention for another 6 months. During the study, specialists will set up air purifiers and pollution monitors in participants homes, collect questionnaire data, and measure health indicators. Throughout the trial, researchers will collect biospecimens and monitor blood pressure, body weight, and blood sugar markers such as HOMA-IR and HbA1c at baseline and after each 6-month intervention. Continuous glucose levels will also be tracked at 3 months. This detailed monitoring aims to understand how reducing indoor pollution affects metabolic health. The total participation spans over 18 months including interventions and washout.

HEPA, PM2.5, and Cardiometabolic Health