NCT07261202 Impact of Indoor Overheating on Physiological Strain in Children
| NCT ID | NCT07261202 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Ottawa |
| Condition | Heat Stress |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 10 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-11-08 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-06-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 10 participants in total. It began in 2025-11-08 with a primary completion date of 2026-06-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Communities worldwide are experiencing increasing heat extremes that challenge the limits of human thermoregulation, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children. Compared with adults, children are more susceptible to heat related illness due to less efficient thermoregulatory systems and difficulty recognizing early signs of heat stress. In addition, prolonged heat exposure can adversely affect their mental health, contributing to cognitive decline, heightened anxiety, and irritability. As children spend substantial time in hot environments at school and at home, and as these conditions intensify with climate change, actions to safeguard their health are essential. Yet our understanding of heat exposure effects in children remains incomplete, hindering the development of evidence based strategies to protect them. To address this gap, the investigators aim to evaluate whether an indoor temperature limit of 26 °C (45 percent relative humidity), the upper threshold recommended to protect older adults, can effectively prevent dangerous increases in physiological strain and declines in cognitive function in children during a simulated daylong heatwave. The preliminary study will assess physiological and cognitive responses in children aged 10 to 15 years during a 6 hour exposure (approximating a typical school day) to two conditions: (1) the recommended indoor temperature upper limit (26 °C) and (2) a high heat condition representative of homes and schools without air conditioning during extreme heat events (36 °C). In both conditions, children will remain seated at rest while wearing light clothing (t shirt and shorts), with the exception of performing 15 minutes of stepping exercise (6-6.5 METS) each hour (excluding the lunch period) to reflect typical daily activity in a school setting. This experimental design will allow investigators to determine whether maintaining indoor temperatures at the recommended upper limit for older adults sufficiently mitigates physiological strain in children.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * English or French speaking. * Ability to provide informed assent. Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic health conditions * Endurance exercise training (greater than 3 sessions of vigorous exercise training per week for 30 minutes or more) * Restrictions to physical activity
Contact & Investigator
Glen P Kenny, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Ottawa
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07261202 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 10 Years or older, up to 15 Years, studying Heat Stress. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07261202 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07261202 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at gkenny@uottawa.ca for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07261202 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Ottawa, Canada.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07261202 clinical trial?
NCT07261202 is sponsored by University of Ottawa. The principal investigator is Glen P Kenny, PhD at University of Ottawa. The trial plans to enroll 10 participants.