NCT07116460 · Columbia University
Cost Effective Air Filtration Intervention in Low-Income Housing to Reduce Asthma Morbidity
What this study is about
This project will investigate the effectiveness of HEPA air cleaners in reducing indoor air pollution and improving asthma morbidity in children living in East Harlem, New York City (NYC). The study will be conducted over a 2-year period.
View original scientific description
This project will investigate the effectiveness of HEPA air cleaners in reducing indoor air pollution and improving asthma morbidity in children living in East Harlem, New York City (NYC). The study will be conducted over a 2-year period. Columbia University and Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service (LSAFHS) will conduct an intervention study to evaluate the efficacy of using a cost-effective high-capacity high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaner to reduce airborne particulate matter (PM) in the homes of children with asthma and to reduce their asthma morbidity. The study will take place in East Harlem, a low-income neighborhood with high asthma prevalence. It will build on findings from prior Housing and Urban Development Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (HUD LHHTS)-funded research, the experience of LSAFHS installing air cleaners in the homes of asthmatic children, and recent findings demonstrating the effectiveness of home air cleaners in reducing asthma morbidity. The investigators hypothesize that the cost-effective single air cleaner will substantially reduce PM exposure in the homes of asthmatic children and reduce airway inflammation and asthma morbidity. This study will use cutting-edge air sampling technology to continuously quantify and characterize indoor air pollutants in the home for one year, verify and incentivize compliance, and conduct repeated exhaled nitric oxide and pulmonary function tests before and throughout the year after the intervention. This cost-effective intervention can be easily and quickly implemented in homes in low-income, urban communities and easily transferred between homes if families move.
Interventions
DEVICE
Austin Air Cleaner
The Austin Air Purifier consists of 4 stages, a large particle pre-filter, medium pre-filter, a medical grade HEPA filter and a high efficiency gas arrestance carbon cloth to reduce air pollution in homes.
Primary outcome measures
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
Time frame: 1 week before, immediately before, two weeks after, and one year after the air cleaner is turned on.
A portable fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) monitor will used to measure exhaled NO, a biomarker of airway inflammation. FeNO will be measured at four timepoints with respect to the time the air cleaner is turned on.
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second/ Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) Ratio
Time frame: 1 week before, immediately before, two weeks after, then once a month (up to 1 year) after the air cleaner is turned on.
Easy to use, pocket-size spirometers (MIR) will be delivered to the homes along with the initial delivery of equipment. Subjects will be thoroughly trained on how to perform a pulmonary function test (PFT). These spirometers connect via Bluetooth to an application previously installed on the subject's cell phone. PFT data will be downloaded onto Columbia University computers from the app and the results will be scored and validated by trained personnel under the supervision of a spirometry expert. FEV1/FVC measures the proportion of vital capacity expired in the first second of forced expiration to the full forced vital capacity (how much air can be exhaled). FEV1/FVC will be measured at 15 timepoints with respect to the time the air cleaner is turned on.
Number of Attacks of Wheezing
Time frame: Once per month for up to 12 months after the air cleaner is turned on
The number of attacks of wheezing in the past 4 weeks will be reported.
Number of Emergency Department (ED) Visits
Time frame: 12 months after the air cleaner is turned on
Number of ED visits in the past year.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Age 7-18 years
- Asthma symptoms in the past 4 weeks
- Resident in lower-income housing in NYC Northern Manhattan and South Bronx
Exclusion criteria
- Inability to successfully perform spirometry maneuver or FeNO test
- Family planning to move in the next year
Where
- New York, New York
Collaborators
Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Jun 2, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations