Relationship between Perceived Indoor Temperature and Self-Reported Risk for Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People

Yukie Nakajima, Steven M. Schmidt, Agneta Malmgren Fänge, Mari Ono and Toshiharu Ikaga
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Yukie Nakajima: School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3 14 1, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2238522, Japan
Steven M. Schmidt: School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3 14 1, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2238522, Japan
Agneta Malmgren Fänge: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, 22100 Lund, Sweden
Mari Ono: School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3 14 1, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2238522, Japan
Toshiharu Ikaga: Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3 14 1, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2238522, Japan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between perceived indoor temperature in winter and frailty among community-dwelling older people. This cross-sectional study included 342 people 65 years and older in Japan. Participants answered questions about demographics, frailty, housing, and perceived indoor temperature in winter. Participants were grouped based on perceived indoor temperature (Cold or Warm) and economic satisfaction (Unsatisfied or Satisfied). Differences in the frailty index between perceived indoor temperature groups and economic satisfaction groups were tested by using ANCOVA and MANCOVA. An interaction effect showed that people in the Cold Group and unsatisfied with their economic status had significantly higher frailty index scores ( F (1, 336) = 5.95, p = 0.015). Furthermore, the frailty index subscale of fall risk was the specific indicator of frailty that accounted for this significant relationship. While previous research has shown the risks related to cold indoor temperature in homes, interestingly among those who reported cold homes, only those who were not satisfied with their economic situation reported being at increased risk for frailty. This highlights the potential importance of preventing fuel poverty to prevent frailty.

Keywords: home; old age; winter season; economic satisfaction; fall risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:613-:d:207419

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