Understanding the relationship between respiratory health and air quality
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN82165557 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82165557 |
| Sponsor | Lovexair Foundation |
| Funder | Lovexair Foundation |
- Submission date
- 04/09/2026
- Registration date
- 29/09/2026
- Last edited
- 11/09/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Respiratory
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Air pollution is an important public health issue and may affect respiratory health and overall well-being. However, there is limited information on how environmental exposure, lifestyle factors, respiratory symptoms and existing respiratory conditions interact at population level in Spain. The CheckAir Spain study aims to collect information from citizens across Spain to better understand the relationship between respiratory health, environmental exposures and air quality. The results may help identify population needs, support prevention strategies and contribute to public health planning.
Who can participate?
People of all ages living in Spain can participate. Adults can complete the assessment themselves. Children and adolescents can participate through a parent or legal guardian, who will complete the questionnaire on their behalf. Participants must provide informed consent before taking part.
What does the study involve?
Participants complete a digital CheckAir questionnaire, which takes about 3 to 5 minutes. The questionnaire asks about respiratory symptoms, previous diagnoses, lifestyle habits, environmental exposures and perceived air quality. Participants also provide general location information, which is used to link responses with publicly available air quality data for their area. After completing the assessment, participants can access a personalised educational report and respiratory health guidance. Participation is entirely voluntary and involves a single questionnaire with no follow-up visits.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may gain a better understanding of factors that can influence their respiratory health and receive educational information about air quality and respiratory well-being. The study does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment or clinical advice. Risks are minimal because participation involves only completing an online questionnaire. Some participants may experience mild discomfort or concern when answering questions about symptoms or health conditions.
Where is the study run from?
The study is coordinated by the Lovexair Foundation in Madrid, Spain, and is conducted throughout Spain using a digital platform. All participation is completed remotely or during community events.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2026 to September 2028
Who is funding the study?
Lovexair Foundation (Spain)
Who is the main contact?
1. Eva Maroto López, formacion@lovexair.com
2. Felipe Villar Álvarez, FVillarA@quironsalud.es
Contact information
Principal investigator, Scientific
Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz
Avda. de los Reyes Católicos, 2
Madrid
28040
Spain
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-9991-8302 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +34 (0)91 5504800 ext 2492 |
| FVillarA@quironsalud.es |
Public
Lovexair Foundation
Paseo de las Delicias 30, planta 2
Madrid
28045
Spain
| ORCID ID |
0000-0001-8003-6481 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +34 (0)637524326 |
| formacion@lovexair.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Observational study design | Cross sectional study |
| Scientific title | CheckAir Spain: respiratory health and environmental exposure |
| Study acronym | CheckAir |
| Study objectives | Primary objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess self-reported respiratory health outcomes among participants in the Spanish community using the CheckAir lung health assessments and to examine their association with air quality exposure (PM2.5 readings). Secondary objectives: 1. To generate geographically representative and aggregated real-world evidence on respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and risk factors throughout Spain 2. Identify geographic hotspots and vulnerable subgroups (e.g., high symptom burden, high-exposure areas) to support specific public health interventions 3. To estimate the proportion and profile of participants with possible undiagnosed respiratory diseases based on symptom patterns and risk factors 4. Examine patterns of treatment and disease control correlating self-reported symptoms with treatment use, as an indicator of symptom control and potential unmet clinical needs 5. Support public health policy and prevention planning by providing evidence on environmental exposure, symptom burden, and unmet needs 6. Inform strategies that strengthen equitable access to respiratory health services and prevention resources |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 04/09/2026, Research Ethics Committee of Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital (FJD) (C/ Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 2, Madrid, 28040, Spain; +34 (0)91 5443720; ceic@fjd.es), ref: PIC080-26_FJD |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Respiratory health outcomes |
| Methodology | Participants residing in Spain will complete a single digital CheckAir respiratory health assessment. The questionnaire collects information on demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, previous respiratory diagnoses, lifestyle and behavioural factors, environmental exposures, and perceived respiratory health. Participants will provide general location information, which will be used to link responses with publicly available ambient air quality data, including particulate matter (PM2.5) measurements. No intervention, treatment allocation, randomisation or follow-up will be conducted. Data will be analysed to evaluate associations between self-reported respiratory health outcomes, environmental exposures and air quality indicators in a cross-sectional observational study design. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 30/09/2028 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | All |
| Lower age limit | 0 Days |
| Upper age limit | 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 507 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Resident in Spain 2. Individuals 18 years of age or older who voluntarily complete the assessment online or during in-person events 3. Minors (0–17 years old), whose participation will be carried out through their father or mother or legal guardian, who will complete the questionnaire on their behalf In the case of minors: 1. The questionnaire will be completed exclusively by the legal representative, who will provide information on the child's health status, symptoms and environment 2. Informed consent from the parent or legal guardian will be required prior to entry 3. The parent or legal guardian will be responsible for the veracity of the information provided 4. When the child is old enough and mature enough to understand the information (usually from the age of 12 years), their verbal or implicit assent will also be sought, explaining the objective of the questionnaire in an appropriate way |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Participants who, even with support or assistance available for the informed consent process and the completion of the form, are unable to complete it properly 2. Non-residents of the target geographic area 3. Acute medical emergency requiring immediate clinical attention (would be referred to a healthcare facility instead) 4. Attempted duplication of responses: technical mechanisms will be implemented to detect and prevent duplicate participations |
| Date of first enrolment | 06/09/2026 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/03/2028 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Spain
Study participating centres
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
04/09/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Research Ethics Committee of Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital (FJD).
