NEW large-scale evidence shows that energy efficiency upgrades in the home are associated with lower respiratory medication use, particularly among children, highlighting the broader health benefits of improved housing conditions.
Housing Quality and Dampness Exposure
Dampness is a well-recognised contributor to poor indoor air quality, linked to mould growth, allergens, and respiratory illness. Governments worldwide have invested in retrofitting older housing to improve insulation and ventilation, yet robust evidence on health outcomes has been limited. This large-scale natural experiment in the Netherlands provides important insight into how reducing dampness through structural improvements can influence real-world health outcomes. By targeting poorly insulated homes built before the early 1990s, these interventions aimed to address environmental drivers of respiratory disease at the population level.
Large Scale Evidence on Dampness and Health Outcomes
Researchers followed 2 million individuals over 10 years, totalling approximately 12 million person-years. Medication use among 180,000 tenants in retrofitted homes was compared with those in not yet retrofitted homes. Antihistamine use declined by 1.87% (95% CI 0.19–3.55; p=0.029) after retrofits. Among children younger than 18 years, respiratory medication use fell by 3.76% (1.04–6.48; p=0.0067). After 5 years, asthma medication use was reduced by 6.91% (–0.04 to 13.85; p=0.051). No statistically significant effects were found for non-respiratory medication outcomes or overall health care costs. These findings suggest that reducing dampness and improving air quality can lead to measurable reductions in respiratory treatment needs.
Implications for Policy and Clinical Practice on Dampness
The results reinforce the role of dampness as a modifiable environmental risk factor in respiratory disease, particularly in children. While the effect sizes were modest, the population-level impact is substantial given the scale of exposure. From a policy perspective, integrating health outcomes into housing and energy efficiency programmes could enhance their value. Future research should explore the long-term benefits and identify which patient groups benefit most from dampness reduction strategies.
Reference
Roberdel VP et al. Effect of energy-efficient homes on residents’ health: evidence from a natural experiment in the Netherlands. The Lancet Public Health. 2026;DOI:10.1016/S2468-2667(26)00023-X.
Featured image: Olena Vasylieva on Adobe Stock
