Effective blouse design for heat stroke prevention in late elderly women

Abstract

Mortality rate due to heat stroke is highest in women aged 80 years and older with a vast majority of cases occurring indoors. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether daily clothing worn by older women may somewhat improve this condition.

While functional aspects such as breathability is one of the most important factors when choosing summer clothes, design and other personal preferences also play a crucial role in women’s choice of clothing. Therefore, we examined both functional aspects and personal preferences in older women’s daily clothing. To examine functional aspects, 4 types of blouses with different sleeve lengths were produced and temperature and humidity inside clothes were measured and comparatively evaluated. To investigate personal preferences, elderly women were asked to share her views about 8 different clothing designs via a questionnaire survey.

Examination of daily clothing’s functional aspects revealed that humidity within clothing has a significant impact on comfort perception, and wearing clothes with shorter sleeves was found to be preferable in Japan’s hot and humid climate. However, some specific design features as found in older women’s questionnaire answers, such as 1） sleeveless clothes should be avoided, 2） dress neckline should not be too low, and 3） dress should be long enough to cover the hipline, were found to be conflicting in terms of functionality and personal preference.