Exploring the Relationship between Green Space in a Neighbourhood and Cardiovascular Health in the Winter City of China: A Study Using a Health Survey for Harbin.

Hong Leng,Shichun Yan,Shuyuan Li,Xiuli An

doi:10.3390/ijerph17020513

Abstract

A severely cold climate has a significant impact on cardiovascular health, involving temperature, air environment, exercise and diet. Existing studies have revealed that green space, as an important health resource, may play a positive role in promoting cardiovascular health through the air environment and exercise. Studies focusing on the correlation between green space and cardiovascular health are rarely carried out in winter cities. The purpose of this paper is to take a winter city in China as an empirical case to explore the correlation between green space in a neighbourhood and cardiovascular health in a representative sample at the neighbourhood level, combining the results with Urban Residential Area Planning and Design Standards (GB50180-2018) in China and the existing research. The results showed that green space characteristics of a neighbourhood were related to cardiovascular disease and some of its risk factors. In neighbourhoods with a Green Space Ratio lower than 28%, residents had a higher risk of physical inactivity, overweight or obesity, hypertension and stroke. In neighbourhoods with a Green View Index lower than 15%, residents had a higher risk of physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and stroke. A correlation was found between evergreen tree configuration type and the prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension. No correlation was found between the type of sports field and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, except for hypertension. Residents’ cardiovascular health scores also showed significant differences among neighbourhoods with different green space characteristics. Intervention efforts may benefit from emphasising the importance of improving the Green Space Ratio and Green View Index effectively in a neighbourhood to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Highlights

Focusing on the cardiovascular health of residents in the context of a severely cold climate, the purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between green space and cardiovascular health among residents in the winter city of China at the micro-neighbourhood level, combining these micro-scale green space characteristics with relevant standards in Chinese residential planning and existing research results
The results from the analysis were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals, which estimate the odds of being physically inactive, overweight/obese, suffering from hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia or stroke risk, representing the change of cardiovascular risk factors and stroke risk of respondents when the Green Space Ratio changed from more than 28% to less than 28%, Green Vision Index changed from more than 15% to less than 15%, evergreen tree configuration type changed from with evergreen trees to without evergreen trees and sports field type changed from active to passive
The results of our study show that the Green Space Ratio and Green Vision Index of green space within one’s neighbourhood environment were associated with some cardiovascular risk factors and stroke risk

Summary

Introduction

The significant impact climate has on public health should not be ignored. A large number of studies have found that cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality are higher in high-latitude and severe-cold regions and in winter [1]. There is a U-shaped curve between air temperature and cardiovascular mortality—for every one-degree decrease in air temperature in severely cold regions, cardiovascular mortality increases by 1% [2]. Pressman N., one of the founders of the Winter Cities Association, proposes that a winter city is a city with a mean daily maximum air temperature of 0 ◦ C for two months or more in a year [3].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion