Wildfire smoke, home air conditioning, and survival for people on dialysis
REACH Center Research Project 2
Looks at if long-term exposure to wildfire smoke raises the risk of death for people on dialysis and whether having air conditioning at home helps.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194303 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will link maps of fine wildfire smoke (PM2.5) over time to records of people receiving dialysis to see if living with more smoke raises the chance of dying. The team will measure how common home air conditioning is across neighborhoods and test whether higher AC prevalence is tied to lower risk. Analyses will compare different U.S. cities and time periods and use statistical models to separate long-term smoke effects from other factors. The project will work with a patient advisory board through the Community Engagement Core to keep the work grounded in patient concerns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with end-stage renal disease who are receiving dialysis, especially those living in areas affected by landscape fire smoke, are the focus of this work.
Not a fit: People without ESRD or those living in regions never affected by wildfire smoke are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help guide public health advice and home cooling or air-quality measures that lower death risk for dialysis patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links short-term wildfire smoke spikes to higher short-term death risk in dialysis patients, but long-term effects and the protective role of home air conditioning remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Applebaum, Katie M. — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Applebaum, Katie M.
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 below.