A large study in Japan has found that the type of home older adults live in could affect their risk of dying from heart-related diseases.
The study followed nearly 39,000 older adults over six years and found that those living in rental flats or owner-occupied detached houses were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to people living in owner-occupied flats.
Researchers say that one reason for this difference may be related to how warm and stable the indoor temperatures are in these homes. Cold and fluctuating temperatures inside homes can raise blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular problems.
The study, published in BMJ Public Health, was led by Assistant Professor Wataru Umishio from the Institute of Science Tokyo. The research team included experts from several Japanese universities and looked at the housing conditions and cardiovascular deaths of adults with an average age of 73.6 years.
They found that detached houses—especially rental ones—tend to have colder indoor temperatures compared to flats. This is because detached houses are exposed to outdoor weather on all sides and are less protected than flats, which are often surrounded by other units that help keep the temperature steady.
Another issue is insulation. Many rental properties in Japan have poor insulation and don’t meet modern standards. This is partly because landlords don’t have much incentive to spend money on energy-saving upgrades that mainly benefit tenants.
National data shows that only 15% of rental homes in Japan have double-glazed windows or other high-insulation features, compared to 38% of owner-occupied homes.
The researchers also noted that men are at higher risk than women, possibly because older men in Japan generally have higher blood pressure.
According to the Japanese Society of Hypertension, men in their 60s and 70s tend to have higher systolic blood pressure than women of the same age, making them more vulnerable to the effects of cold indoor temperatures.
To help reduce cardiovascular deaths, the researchers suggest that improving insulation and keeping indoor temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius—the minimum temperature recommended by the World Health Organization—could make a big difference, especially for elderly people and men.
Better housing conditions could not only improve heart health but also support broader goals like fighting climate change. Homes that are properly insulated use less energy for heating, reducing overall energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
“By encouraging the use of better-insulated homes, we can improve both heart health and environmental health,” said Umishio. He believes that housing should be seen as a public health issue, especially in countries with aging populations like Japan.
In summary, the study provides strong evidence that the quality and type of housing can impact heart health. Making homes warmer and more energy-efficient could help save lives and improve living conditions for older adults.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about a surprising link between alcohol drinking and heart health and both blood pressure numbers can predict heart disease risk.
The study is published in BMJ Public Health.
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