Asthma Intervention With Residential Ventilation and Air Cleaner (AIRVAC) Study

Summary

The primary goal of this study is to investigate the comparative long-term (i.e., 1-year) effectiveness of energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and portable air cleaners (PACs) in reducing indoor air pollutants and mold levels and improving asthma-related health outcomes in inner-city children and adults with asthma in low-income households in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area, TX. Secondary goals include: (1) examining associations among asthma outcomes, exposure to indoor air pollutants and mold, and housing-related factors, (2) conducting a cost-benefit analysis of ERV and PAC interventions for improving IAQ, mold control, and health outcomes, and (3) evaluating the utility of cost-effective methods and protocols for measuring IAQ and mold for indoor air pollution epidemiology studies and for providing practical information to patients and their physicians. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial, 80 households will be assigned to receive active or placebo versions of ERVs or PACs. Environmental exposures and housing conditions will be monitored alongside comprehensive health assessments, including lung function tests and validated surveys on asthma control, quality of life, stress, and sleep quality.

Conditions

• Asthma Control
• Pulmonary Function
• Quality of Life
• Stress
• Sleep Quality

Interventions

DEVICE

Energy Recovery Ventilator

A mechanical ventilation system that exchanges stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while transferring heat and moisture between the incoming and outgoing air streams

DEVICE

Portable Air Cleaner

A standalone home device that filters indoor air to remove particulate matter, allergens, and other pollutants

DEVICE

Energy Recovery Ventilator (Sham)

A home-installed ERV unit that operates in recirculation mode only, providing no fresh air exchange or heat/moisture transfer, serving as a placebo for study purposes.

DEVICE

Portable Air Cleaner (Sham)

A portable air cleaner that appears to operate like an active unit but does not contain a HEPA filter and does not clean the air, serving as a placebo for study purposes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rebuilding Together North Texas

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The University of Texas at Arlington

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Insung Kang, Ph.D. · The University of Texas at Arlington

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-10-10

Primary Completion

2028-01-31

Completion

2028-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations