Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34641787›Full record

Trial reportEnvironmental health and preventive medicine2021

Electrocardiogram abnormalities in residents in cold homes: a cross-sectional analysis of the nationwide Smart Wellness Housing survey in Japan.

Wataru Umishio, Toshiharu Ikaga, Kazuomi Kario, Yoshihisa Fujino, Masaru Suzuki, Shintaro Ando, Tanji Hoshi, Takesumi Yoshimura, Hiroshi Yoshino, Shuzo Murakami and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Environmental health and preventive medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The Japanese Society of Hypertension Practical Consensus Guidelines for Seasonal Blood Pressure Management.Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 8 institutions in 1 country.

Wataru UmishioDepartment of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, W8-11, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan. umishio.w.aa@m.titech.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-3429
Toshiharu IkagaDepartment of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kazuomi KarioDepartment of Cardiology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Yoshihisa FujinoDepartment of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
Masaru SuzukiDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan.
Shintaro AndoDepartment of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
Tanji HoshiTokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
Takesumi YoshimuraUniversity of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
Hiroshi YoshinoTohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
Shuzo MurakamiInstitute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
SWH Survey Group
University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan · JPJichi Medical University · JPKeio University · JPThe University of Kitakyushu · JPTohoku University Hospital · JPTokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital · JPTokyo Institute of Technology · JPTokyo Metropolitan University · JP

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JP17H06151Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism None
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExcess winter mortality caused by cardiovascular disease is particularly profound in cold houses. Consistent with this, accumulating evidence indicates that low indoor temperatures at home increase blood pressure. However, it remains unclear whether low indoor temperatures affect other cardiovascular biomarkers. In its latest list of priority medical devices for management of cardiovascular diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) included electrocardiography systems as capital medical devices. We therefore examined the association between indoor temperature and electrocardiogram findings.

methodsWe collected electrocardiogram data from 1480 participants during health checkups. We also measured the indoor temperature in the living room and bedroom for 2 weeks in winter, and divided participants into those living in warm houses (average exposure temperature ≥ 18 °C), slightly cold houses (12-18 °C), and cold houses (< 12 °C) in accordance with guidelines issued by the WHO and United Kingdom. The association between indoor temperature (warm vs. slightly cold vs. cold houses) and electrocardiogram findings was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models, with adjustment for confounders such as demographics (e.g., age, sex, body mass index, household income), lifestyle (e.g., eating habit, exercise, smoking, alcohol drinking), and region.

resultsThe average temperature at home was 14.7 °C, and 238, 924, and 318 participants lived in warm, slightly cold, and cold houses, respectively. Electrocardiogram abnormalities were observed in 17.6%, 25.4%, and 30.2% of participants living in warm, slightly cold, and cold houses, respectively (p = 0.003, chi-squared test). Compared to participants living in warm houses, the odds ratio of having electrocardiogram abnormalities was 1.79 (95% confidence interval: 1.14-2.81, p = 0.011) for those living in slightly cold houses and 2.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.27-3.75, p = 0.005) for those living in cold houses.

conclusionsIn addition to blood pressure, living in cold houses may have adverse effects on electrocardiogram. Conversely, keeping the indoor thermal environment within an appropriate range through a combination of living in highly thermal insulated houses and appropriate use of heating devices may contribute to good cardiovascular health.

trial registrationThe trial was retrospectively registered on 27 Dec 2017 to the University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ , registration identifier number UMIN000030601 ).

Indexed as

ElectrocardiographyHousingTemperatureAgedCardiovascular DiseasesCold TemperatureCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansJapanMaleMiddle AgedCardiovascular diseaseElectrocardiogramHousingIndoor temperatureWinter

Identifiers

PMID34641787
PMCPMC8513347
OpenAlexW3205723733

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.