TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Costs and outcomes of improving population health through better social housing: a cohort study and economic analysis
JO  - International journal of public health
A1  - Bray, Nathan
A1  - Burns, Paul
A1  - Jones, Alice
A1  - Winrow, Eira
A1  - Edwards, Rhiannon Tudor
SP  - 1039
EP  - 1050
VL  - 62
IS  - 9
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1661-8556
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0989-y
ID  - ref1
ER  -