Abstract
BackgroundPerceived neighborhood characteristics, including satisfaction with one’s neighborhood as a place to live, are associated with lower obesity rates and more favorable cardiovascular risk factor profiles. Yet, few studies have evaluated whether changes in perceived neighborhood characteristics over time may be associated with cardiometabolic health indicators.MethodsChanges in perception of one’s neighborhood (2013–2016) were determined from a cohort of residents who lived in one of two low-income urban neighborhoods. Changes were categorized into the following: improvement vs. no change or worsening over the three-year time-period. Multivariable linear regression was used to measure the association between perceived improvement in each of the neighborhood characteristics with cardiometabolic outcomes (BMI, SBP, DBP, HbA1c, HDL-c) that were assessed in 2016, and compared with those who perceived no change or worsening of neighborhood characteristics. Models were adjusted for age, sex, income, education, marital status, physical function, neighborhood, and years spent in neighborhood. To examine potential sex differences, follow-up models were conducted and stratified by sex.ResultsAmong the 622 individuals who remained in the same neighborhood during the time period, 93% were African American, 80% were female, and the mean age was 58 years. In covariate-adjusted models, those who perceived improvement in their neighborhood safety over the time period had a significantly higher BMI (kg/m2) than those who perceived no improvement or worsening (β = 1.5, p = 0.0162); however, perceived improvement in safety was also significantly associated with lower SBP (mmHg) (β = − 3.8, p = 0.0361). When results were stratified by sex, the relationship between improved perceived neighborhood safety and BMI was only evident in females.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that perceived neighborhood characteristics may impact cardiometabolic outcomes (BMI, SBP), but through differing pathways. This highlights the complexity of the associations between neighborhood characteristics and underscores the need for more longitudinal studies to confirm the associations with cardiometabolic health in African American populations.
Highlights
Disproportionate rates of chronic disease among certain racial and ethnic groups in the United States (US) are well-documented
The current analysis aims to address some of the limitations in the existing literature by examining relationships between perceived neighborhood conditions, measured over time, and key cardiometabolic outcomes, within a randomly selected cohort living in two separate low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods
This highlights the complexity of the associations between neighborhood characteristics and health as well as the importance of considering how changes in perceived neighborhood characteristics associate with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, and how associations may be sex dependent
Summary
Disproportionate rates of chronic disease among certain racial and ethnic groups in the United States (US) are well-documented. Non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican Americans have double the risk of diabetes compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, and 60% of US blacks have high blood pressure compared to 33% of US Whites [1,2,3] The reasons for these disparities are complex and include individual and community-level factors. Data has shown that residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with increased rates of obesity, diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, as well as lower life expectancies [5,6,7,8,9,10]. Few studies have evaluated whether changes in perceived neighborhood characteristics over time may be associated with cardiometabolic health indicators
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have