Mapping the (un)healthy city

Proximity to urban facilities and chance of premature mortality from myocardial infarction in São Paulo city

authored by: Carlos Leite, Paulo Saldiva, Carmen Diva Saldiva de Andre, Ligia Vizeu Barrozo, Angelica Benatti Alvim, Tereza Herling, Eliene Corrêa, Claudia Acosta, Paulo Afonso de Andre, Luiz Fernando Ferraz da Silva, Ivan Pereira, Andresa Ledo Marques
Abstract: Applied research in healthy cities is often based on empirical investigations of the association between the built environment and health outcomes using spatial analysis. We investigated the influence of proximity to urban facilities on the occurrence of early deaths from myocardial infarction (age <60 years) in the city of São Paulo, with cause of death determined by autopsy. The study data were extracted from interviews applied to relatives/caregivers of 458 deceased autopsied at the Death Verification Service, collecting information on demographic characteristics, residential address, life habits and previous health conditions. After geocoding the residential addresses of the deceased, the distances to different urban facilities were calculated. The existence of an association between the odds of death from myocardial infarction aged <60 years versus ≥60 years and distance to urban facilities was assessed by fitting logistic regression models. The results showed a significant association between these distances and the odds of early death from infarction. More specifically, when distances to different facilities were halved, the odds of death at <60 years were reduced by a factor of 0.78 (−22 %) for community clubs; 0.73 (−27 %) for sports centers; and by 0.80 (20 %) for cycle paths). These results indicate the potential of interventions to benefit human health through the formulation of spatially-integrated public policies in cities.
Organisation(s): Institute of Urban Design and Planning
External Organisation(s): Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie
Universidade de Sao Paulo
Fundacao Getulio Vargas
Type: Article
Journal: CITIES
Volume: 148
No. of pages: 11
ISSN: 0264-2751
Publication date: 05.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Development, Sociology and Political Science, Urban Studies, Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.104864 (Access: Closed)