Back to Search
Start Over
Exploring associations of greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic health in people at midlife and beyond.
- Source :
-
Geriatrics & Gerontology International . Mar2024 Supplement 1, Vol. 24, p208-214. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Aim: To examine associations of neighborhood greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic disease in adults aged ≥45 years in the Frankston–Mornington Peninsula region, Victoria, Australia. Methods: A cross‐sectional, ecological study design was used. We assessed mean annual neighborhood greenery using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; air pollution (fine particulate matter of diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5] and NO2) using land‐use regression models; and walkability using Walk Score (possible values 0–100). Medically diagnosed diabetes (~95% type‐2), heart disease and stroke were self‐reported in the Australian Census (2021). Multivariable regression was used to model associations between environmental exposures and area‐level (neighborhood) cardiometabolic disease prevalence (age group ≥45 years), with socioeconomic status, age and sex as covariates. Air pollution was examined as a mediator of associations between greenery and disease prevalence. Results: Our sample comprised 699 neighborhoods with the following mean (SD) values: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 0.47 (0.09), PM2.5, 8.5 (0.6) μg/m3 and NO2, 5.2 (1.6) ppb. Disease prevalences were: heart disease, mean 8.9% (4.5%); diabetes, mean 10.3% (4.7%); and stroke, median 1.2% (range 0–10.9%). Greenery was negatively associated with diabetes (β = −5.85, 95% CI −9.53, −2.17) and stroke prevalence (β = −1.26, 95% CI −2.11, −0.42). PM2.5 and NO2 were positively associated with diabetes (β = 1.59, 95% CI 1.00, 2.18; β = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22, 0.62) and stroke prevalence (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.01, 0.29; β = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.10). The association between greenery and diabetes was partially mediated by PM2.5 (mediated effect −5.38, 95% CI −7.84, −3.03). Conclusions: Greenery and air pollutants were associated with lower and higher prevalence, respectively, of self‐reported diabetes and, to a lesser extent, stroke. These ecological findings require further exploration with stronger, longitudinal study designs to inform public health policy and directions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 208–214. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *AIR pollution
*METABOLIC disorders
*RISK assessment
*CROSS-sectional method
*SELF-evaluation
*NATURE
*SOCIOECONOMIC factors
*CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*WALKING
*TYPE 2 diabetes
*PARTICULATE matter
*STROKE
*PUBLIC health
*PHYSICAL activity
*ECOLOGICAL research
*REGRESSION analysis
*DISEASE risk factors
*MIDDLE age
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14441586
- Volume :
- 24
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Geriatrics & Gerontology International
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 176213334
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14743