Experimental study on thermal comfort and sleep quality of sleeping people in overheated bedroom conditions in the uk

Abstract Introduction Thermal comfort and sleep quality are important factors in human health and well-being and can be influenced by various environmental factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, and airflow. The microclimate within a bed, or the local climate immediately surrounding a person's body while they sleep, can also have a significant impact on thermal comfort and sleep quality. Methods In this paper, we investigate the relationship between bed microclimate and thermal comfort and sleep quality in overheated bedroom conditions that are prevalent during heatwaves in the United Kingdom. Participants were screened using the Sleep Disorder Symptoms Checklist (SDS-CL)-25 and health questionnaire. 10 healthy participants were recruited in a 3-night sleep monitoring in the bedrooms of student accommodation hall at Loughborough University campus in the summer of 2022. Baseline sleep quality (in-home) was objectively and subjectively collected for all the participants before the onset of the 3-night sleep monitoring period. Subjective response (self-rating) of sleep quality, sleep satisfaction, thermal sensation, and thermal satisfaction of the room and bed microclimate was collected using Consensus Sleep Diary and survey questionnaires, twice each night (before sleeping) and once in the morning (after waking up). Data on sleeping environment conditions (both room thermal environment and bed microclimate) were collected every night throughout the experiment period. Sleep quality of participants was objectively measured using actigraphy method and mean skin temperature was measured using wireless sensors at ten locations on the body. Results Overall, sleep quality in the overheated bedroom conditions was poorer compared to the baseline sleep quality. We found that the sleep efficiency reduced, and the self-rated sleep experience was significantly poorer, compared to the baseline. Impact of room thermal conditions on sleep latency was examined, which was found to be increased significantly in the overheated conditions compared to baseline (at home). The results also highlight the statistical significance between sleep quality, skin temperature, and bed temperature. Conclusion This study highlights the impact of overheated bedroom conditions (room environment and bed microclimate) on both thermal comfort and sleep quality, and the importance of considering the bed microclimate in the design and management of sleeping environments. Support (if any) EPSRC grant number EP/S021671/1