Evaluating the effectiveness of combined indoor air quality management and asthma education on indoor air quality and asthma control in adults

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Obeng, Alexander and Rho, Taehyun and Moreno-Rangel, Alejandro and Carrillo, Genny (2026) Evaluating the effectiveness of combined indoor air quality management and asthma education on indoor air quality and asthma control in adults. Atmosphere, 17 (1). 84. ISSN 2073-4433 (https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17010084)

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Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical determinant of respiratory health and plays an essential role in asthma management. Exposure to indoor pollutants such as particulate matter (PM 2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological allergens can exacerbate asthma symptoms. This pilot quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest study evaluated the combined effect of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers and tailored asthma education on the IAQ and asthma outcomes of 30 adults diagnosed with asthma. Indoor PM 2.5, total VOCs (tVOC), temperature, and relative humidity were monitored using low-cost air quality monitors across three home locations for 30 days, and participants completed baseline and follow-up assessments of asthma control (ACQ) and quality of life (AQLQ). The intervention reduced PM 2.5 concentrations from 21.32 µg/m 3 to 18.19 µg/m 3 (p < 0.001), while tVOC levels increased slightly from 237.05 ppb to 251.81 ppb (p = 0.02). The median ACQ scores improved from 1.17 to 0.50 (p < 0.001), the proportion of participants with well-controlled asthma (ACQ ≤ 0.75) rose from 30% to 66.7%, and the median AQLQ scores increased from 5.75 to 6.30 (p < 0.001). Participants in the intervention experienced significantly improved asthma control, quality of life, and indoor PM 2.5 levels, which underscores the significance of integrating environmental and educational strategies in adult asthma management.

ORCID iDs

Obeng, Alexander, Rho, Taehyun, Moreno-Rangel, Alejandro ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6405-4233 and Carrillo, Genny;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)