1. A correlational analysis of COVID-19 incidence and mortality and urban determinants of vitamin D status across the London boroughs.
- Author
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Borna, Mehrdad, Woloshynowych, Maria, Schiano-Phan, Rosa, Volpi, Emanuela V., and Usman, Moonisah
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ROADKILL ,VITAMIN D deficiency ,PANDEMICS ,COVID-19 pandemic ,VITAMIN D ,BOROUGHS ,AIR pollution ,SYNDEMICS - Abstract
One of the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is the heterogeneity in disease severity exhibited amongst patients. Among multiple factors, latest studies suggest vitamin D deficiency and pre-existing health conditions to be major contributors to death from COVID-19. It is known that certain urban form attributes can impact sun exposure and vitamin D synthesis. Also, long-term exposure to air pollution can play an independent role in vitamin D deficiency. We conducted a correlational analysis of urban form and air quality in relation to the demographics and COVID-19 incidence and mortality across 32 London boroughs between March 2020 and January 2021. We found total population, number of residents of Asian ethnicity, 4-year average PM
10 levels and road length to be positively correlated with COVID-19 cases and deaths. We also found percentage of households with access to total open space to be negatively correlated with COVID-19 deaths. Our findings link COVID-19 incidence and mortality across London with environmental variables linked to vitamin D status. Our study is entirely based on publicly available data and provides a reference framework for further research as more data are gathered and the syndemic dimension of COVID-19 becomes increasingly relevant in connection to health inequalities within large urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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