HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Thomson, H. Articles by Petticrew, M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thomson, H. Articles by Petticrew, M. Related Collections Public Health Practice Socioeconomic Factors Urban Health

Hilary Thomson, MPH, Sian Thomas, Eva Sellstrom, PhD and Mark Petticrew, PhD

Hilary Thomson and Sian Thomas are with the MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, Scotland. Eva Sellstrom is with the Department of Health Sciences, Mid-Sweden University, Ostersund. Mark Petticrew is with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, England.

Correspondence: Correspondence can be sent to Hilary Thomson, MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, UK, G12 8RZ (e-mail: hilary{at}sphsu.mrc.ac.uk). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking on the "Reprints/Eprints" link.

Objectives. We conducted a systematic review of the health impacts of housing improvement.

Methods. Forty-two bibliographic databases were searched for housing intervention studies from 1887 to 2007. Studies were appraised independently by H. T. and S. T. or E. S. for sources of bias. The data were tabulated and synthesized narratively, taking into account study quality.

Results. Forty-five relevant studies were identified. Improvements in general, respiratory, and mental health were reported following warmth improvement measures, but these health improvements varied across studies. Varied health impacts were reported following housing-led neighborhood renewal. Studies from the developing world suggest that provision of basic housing amenities may lead to reduced illness. There were few reports of adverse health impacts following housing improvement. Some studies reported that the housing improvement was associated with positive impacts on socioeconomic determinants of health.

Conclusions. Housing improvements, especially warmth improvements, can generate health improvements; there is little evidence of detrimental health impacts. The potential for health benefits may depend on baseline housing conditions and careful targeting of the intervention. Investigation of socioeconomic impacts associated with housing improvement is needed to investigate the potential for longer-term health impacts.