[Thermal comfort for the elderly: A systematic review of the scientific literature]

Abstract

By 2050, people over 65 years old will represent 66% of the world's population. Thermal comfort both indoors and outdoors is one of the most influential factors to improve their quality of life in cities. The aim of this paper is to present a systematic review of the literature that identifies differences in thermal comfort temperature between older adults and other age groups, as well as to determine the factors that influence them. The review focused on studies published between 2000 and 2018. The results show that, for physiological, psychological, and physical reasons, there were differences between 0.2 and 4°C. However, the published studies were heterogeneous in terms of methodologies and sample size. Likewise, few determine the comfort temperature range for older people in a given climate, demonstrating the opportunity for future lines of research.

Keywords: Adultos mayores; Ageing; Confort térmico; Envejecimiento; Older adults; Percepción térmica; Preferencia térmica; Thermal comfort; Thermal perception; Thermal preference.