Reducing AIR Pollution Exposure to Lower Blood PRESSURE Among New York City Public Housing Residents (AirPressureNYC)

NYU Langone Health

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Blood Pressure

Treatments: Device: Active PAC; Device: Sham PAC

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05874479

23-00517

Details and patient eligibility

About

Fine particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) air pollution is the fifth leading risk factor for global mortality, with the largest portion of deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). While several mechanisms are responsible, PM2.5-induced elevations in blood pressure (BP) may be relevant. Indoor portable air cleaners (PACs) are a novel approach to reduce exposure to PM2.5 and potentially lower blood pressure. The current study is being conducted to provide evidence that PACs reduce PM2.5 exposure and lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) in key patient populations.

Enrollment: 440 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• self-reported nonsmokers living in a nonsmoking household.
• adults living with hypertension (HTN) from NYC public housing.

Exclusion criteria

• History of major known arrhythmias (e.g. atrial flutter or fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia).
• Screening systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥100 mm Hg (i.e. severe hypertension by the 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline).
• A change in drug regimen in the prior 2 weeks or a planned change in drug regimen during the first 30 days for those taking antihypertensive medication.
• Current smoking or living with an active smoker who smokes indoors
• Planned travel out of NYC for ≥2 weeks in next 6 months
• Incarcerated
• Pregnant
• Unable/unwilling to consent
• Established cardiovascular disease
• End-stage renal disease (chronic kidney disease stage IV or on dialysis)
• Barrier to technology use (e.g., visual or hearing impairment)
• Lung disease requiring oxygen
• Cancer receiving treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

440 participants in 2 patient groups

Active Portable Air Cleaner (PAC)

Experimental group

Description:

Using a double-blind randomized process, active PACs (with HEPA filters inside) will be assembled and placed in the bedroom of study participants. Initiation of the PAC devices will occur at baseline on Day 0. After completion of enrollment, consent and the placement of PACs, electricity monitors, and PurpleAir monitoring, the PAC will be turned on. Participants will be instructed to keep the PACs on in bedrooms during the study duration, closing bedroom doors at night and during the day, when possible. The PAC will run for 24 hours on Day 0 of the study protocol before the 30-day treatment period begins. A kilowatt meter will be installed with the PAC to monitor electricity usage as a measure of adherence.

Treatment:

Device: Active PAC

Sham PAC

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Using a double-blind randomized process, sham PACs (with no filters inside) will be assembled and placed in the bedroom of study participants. Initiation of the PAC devices will occur at baseline on Day 0. After completion of enrollment, consent and the placement of PACs, electricity monitors, and PurpleAir monitoring, the PAC will be turned on. Participants will be instructed to keep PACs on in bedrooms during the study duration, closing bedroom doors at night and during the day, when possible. The PAC will run for 24 hours on Day 0 of the study protocol before the 30-day treatment period begins. A kilowatt meter will be installed with the PAC to monitor electricity usage as a measure of adherence.

Treatment:

Device: Sham PAC