Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40987723›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Crowded housing, indoor environment and children's respiratory, allergic and general health in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.

Elodie Eiffener, Rachel Murekatete, Anne-Sophie Merritt, Antonios Georgelis, Catherine Fahlén Zelander, Lina Al-Nahar, Kristina Jakobsson, Maria Albin, Anna Bergström, Marina Jonsson and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Elodie EiffenerInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden elodie.eiffener@ki.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5971-4903
Rachel MurekateteInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3535-9481
Anne-Sophie MerrittInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Antonios GeorgelisInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-1512
Catherine Fahlén ZelanderCentre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Lina Al-NaharDivision of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6524-9792
Kristina JakobssonSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Maria AlbinInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anna BergströmInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Marina JonssonInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Charlotta ErikssonInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of this study was to analyse associations between crowded housing and children's indoor living environment, respiratory and allergic disorders and general health.

designA cross-sectional study.

settingSweden, using data from the Swedish National Environmental Health Survey 2019.

participantsThe study sample included 48 512 children (aged 6-10 months, 4 years and 12 years). We also investigated associations in vulnerable subgroups, such as children with asthma and those living under unfavourable socioeconomic conditions. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes in the living environment were at least one sign of mould, poor indoor air quality, unpleasant odours, too warm indoors in summer and too cold indoors in winter. Primary outcomes for children's health were asthma, airway problems, breathing difficulties, rhinitis symptoms, mould and mites allergy, pollen allergy, furred pet allergy and good general health.

resultsAbout one in five children lived in an overcrowded home. Factors from the indoor living environment such as perceived poor indoor air quality and mould were significantly associated with crowded housing. Moreover, children who lived in overcrowded conditions were less likely to report good general health than children in non-crowded households (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.76). This association was even stronger in children with asthma (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.77). Few significant associations were, however, observed with the respiratory and allergic health outcomes.

conclusionsCrowded housing is associated both with a poor indoor environment and with poorer general health in children. Children with asthma may experience even poorer general health.

Indexed as

Air Pollution, IndoorChild HealthHousing QualityHypersensitivityRespiratory Tract DiseasesSocial Determinants of HealthAsthmaChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth StatusHealth SurveysHumansInfantMaleAllergyCommunity child healthCross-Sectional StudiesEPIDEMIOLOGYHealth EquityPUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID40987723
PMCPMC12458785

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.