Results from "Neighbourhood built environment and cardiovascular disease: knowledge and future directions"
Koohsari, M. J., McCormach, G. R., Nakaya, T., & Oka, K
Current knowledge
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in increasingly prevalent among western countries (1).
A growing body of literature has found associations between neighbourhood built features, (e.g. land use mix, residential density, food destinations, transportation infrastructure, etc.) and individuals' health behaviours (1,2). These behavioural pathways can influence the development of clinical CVD risk factors, such as obesity and hypertension (1,2). Incorporating this current evidence into public policies and
planning may be important for preventing CVD at the neighbourhood level.
Future directions
Much of the current knowledge is based on preliminary evidence from studies that have not been replicated. To better understand the relationship between the neighbourhood built environment and CVD, future studies should consider addressing the conceptual, methodological, and policy-related limitations within the current literature. Interdisciplinary research initiatives may be critical in establishing a more comprehensive awareness to the influence of built environmental features on CVD risk.
Suggested Citation: Koohsari, M.J., McCormack, G.R., Nakaya, T. & Oka. K. Neighbourhood built environment and cardiovascular disease: knowledge and future directions. Nat Rev Cardiol (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-020-0343-6
Written by Emma Chong
Posted on April 15th, 2020
References:
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. Influence of urban and transport planning and the city environment on cardiovascular disease. Nat. Rev. Cardiol.15, 432–438 (2018).
Chandrabose, M. et al. Built environment and cardio-metabolic health: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Obes. Rev.20, 41–54 (2019).