A study of the effectiveness of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) in reducing harmful effects of air pollution on the heart and lungs in adults 55 and over

A randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) in reducing cardiac and respiratory adverse effects of air pollution in adults 55 and over

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN26552763

Enrollment

Registered

2015-05-07

Start date

2015-05-18

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cardiac and respiratory health Signs and Symptoms Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems

Interventions

1. The intervention group will be asked to exercise indoors rather than outdoors and avoid other outdoor activity prior to physiological testing when the maximum AQHI is forecast to be 5 or higher (on

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Participants must be 55 years of age or older 2. Non-smokers 3. Not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home 4. No seasonal allergies

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Unstable angina 2. Atrial flutter 3. Atrial fibrillation 4. Paced rhythm 5. Left bundle branch block 6. Implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) 7. Participants with allergies to latex or adhesives will be excluded

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Weekly measures before and after 30 minutes of mild activity: 1. Heart rate variability (Holter monitoring) 2. Endothelial function (Reactive Hyperemia Index - Peripheral artery tone) 3. Oxygen saturation (finger oximeter) 4. Blood pressure (automated sphygmomanometer) 5. Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (exhaled NO sensor) 6. Spirometric measures (spirometer) 7. Urinary oxidative stress markers (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG))	—

Measure

Time frame

Weekly measures before and after 30 minutes of mild activity: 1. Heart rate variability (Holter monitoring) 2. Endothelial function (Reactive Hyperemia Index - Peripheral artery tone) 3. Oxygen saturation (finger oximeter) 4. Blood pressure (automated sphygmomanometer) 5. Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (exhaled NO sensor) 6. Spirometric measures (spirometer) 7. Urinary oxidative stress markers (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG))

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Respiratory symptoms.	—

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Public ContactDavid Stieb

dave.stieb@hc-sc.gc.ca604 666 3701

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026