Indoor air filtration to slow atherothrombosis in adults with prior heart disease
Official title: Slowing Atherothrombosis Progression through Indoor Air Filtration: A Crossover Trial in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Adults with Ischemic Heart Disease History
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11146420 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term trial will test whether using affordable indoor air purifiers reduces markers of blood vessel disease in older adults with a history of ischemic heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $654,430 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES033707-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146420 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with a history of ischemic heart disease or ASCVD who live in homes where air filtration could be used.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without exposure to indoor PM2.5 or those unable to use home filtration as directed may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This study will place HEPA filters in participants’ homes to lower indoor PM2.5 exposure and compare it to sham filtration in a crossover design over 9 months per phase, with a 3-month washout. Researchers will measure changes in arterial stiffness, blood pressure, inflammation and clotting markers, and overall cardiovascular risk scores. The goal is to see if sustained cleaner air can meaningfully slow the progression of atherothrombosis in a real-world setting. The trial is conducted in Los Angeles with older adults who have existing cardiovascular disease. Results could inform recommendations for simple, at-home interventions to reduce heart-disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from a low-cost way to slow heart-disease progression through cleaner indoor air.
How similar studies have gone: Prior short-term studies showed biomarker improvements with air filtration, but this is the longest and a more definitive test.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Zhanghua — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Chen, Zhanghua
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.