Determinants of residential greenness and its association with prostate cancer risk: A case-control study in Singapore

Abstract

BackgroundExposure to greenness has been shown to be beneficial to health, but few studies have examined the association between residential greenness and prostate cancer (PCa) risk. Our main objectives were to identify the determinants of residential greenness, and to investigate if residential greenness was associated with PCa risk in Singapore. MethodsThe hospital-based case-control study was conducted between April 2007 and May 2009. The Singapore Prostate Cancer Study (SPCS) comprised 240 prostate cancer cases and 268 controls, whose demographics and residential address were collected using questionnaires. Residential greenness was measured by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) around the participants’ homes using a buffer size of 1 km. Determinants of NDVI were identified using a multivariable linear regression model. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of associations between NDVI and PCa risk, adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsHaving a BMI within the second quartile, as compared to the lowest quartile, was associated with higher levels of NDVI (β-coefficient = 0.263; 95% CI = 0.040–0.485) after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, being widowed or separated, as compared to being married, was associated with lower levels of NDVI (β-coefficient = −0.393; 95% CI = −0.723, −0.063). An interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI was positively associated with prostate cancer risk OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.02–2.07). Stratified analysis by tumour grade and stage showed that higher NDVI was associated with higher risk of low grade PCa. ConclusionOur findings suggested that residential greenness was associated with higher risk of PCa in Singapore. Future studies on the quality and type of green spaces, as well as other factors of residential greenness, in association with PCa risk should be conducted to better understand this relationship.