The influence of proximity to city parks and major roads on the development of arterial hypertension

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between residential distance from major roads and city parks and the development of arterial hypertension. Methods: In this study, we used data of the population included in the MONICA survey (Lithuania). In total, 739 participants without arterial hypertension were selected for the present study. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to evaluate the associations between distances from a major road and a city park expressed as categorical variables and the incidence of arterial hypertension, adjusting for individual risk factors. Results: For persons living at a distance of 151–300 m and > 300 m from city parks, relative risks were 1.49 (95% CI 1.03–2.15) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.10–2.07) respectively, as compared to a ≤ 150 m distance from city parks. For persons living further than 200 m away from a major road, the relative risk for the residential distance from city parks > 150 m was 2.36 (p = 0.029) times higher, as compared to a ≤ 150 m distance from city parks. We found that an increased risk of arterial hypertension was associated with the distance from a city park > 350 m and the distance to a major road < 200 m (RR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.03–2.12) as compared to living ≤ 350 m to a city park and ≥ 200 m away from a major road. Conclusions: An increase in the incidence of arterial hypertension was associated with a shorter distance to a major road and a greater distance to a city park. The effect modification of a shorter distance to a major road on the association between a greater distance to city parks and the incidence of arterial hypertension was identified.