@article{ref1,
title="Costs and outcomes of improving population health through better social housing: a cohort study and economic analysis",
journal="International journal of public health",
year="2017",
author="Bray, Nathan and Burns, Paul and Jones, Alice and Winrow, Eira and Edwards, Rhiannon Tudor",
volume="62",
number="9",
pages="1039-1050",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the impact of warmth-related housing improvements on the health, well-being, and quality of life of families living in social housing. <br><br>METHODS: An historical cohort study design was used. Households were recruited by Gentoo, a social housing contractor in North East England. Recruited households were asked to complete a quality of life, well-being, and health service use questionnaire before receiving housing improvements (new energy-efficient boiler and double-glazing) and again 12 months afterwards. <br><br>RESULTS: Data were collected from 228 households. The average intervention cost was £3725. At 12-month post-intervention, a 16% reduction (-£94.79) in household 6-month health service use was found. Statistically significant positive improvements were observed in main tenant and household health status (p < 0.001; p = 0.009, respectively), main tenant satisfaction with financial situation (p = 0.020), number of rooms left unheated per household (p < 0.001), frequency of household outpatient appointments (p = 0.001), and accident/emergency department attendance (p < 0.012). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Warmth-related housing improvements may be a cost-effective means of improving the health of social housing tenants and reducing health service expenditure, particularly in older populations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-8556",
doi="10.1007/s00038-017-0989-y",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0989-y"
}