Exploring associations of greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic health in people at midlife and beyond.

Aim: To examine associations of neighborhood greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic disease in adults aged ≥45 years in the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula region, Victoria, Australia.

Methods: A cross-sectional, ecological study design was used. We assessed mean annual neighborhood greenery using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; air pollution (fine particulate matter of diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM] and NO) using land-use regression models; and walkability using Walk Score (possible values 0-100). Medically diagnosed diabetes (~95% type-2), heart disease and stroke were self-reported in the Australian Census (2021). Multivariable regression was used to model associations between environmental exposures and area-level (neighborhood) cardiometabolic disease prevalence (age group ≥45 years), with socioeconomic status, age and sex as covariates. Air pollution was examined as a mediator of associations between greenery and disease prevalence.

Results: Our sample comprised 699 neighborhoods with the following mean (SD) values: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 0.47 (0.09), PM, 8.5 (0.6) μg/m and NO, 5.2 (1.6) ppb. Disease prevalences were: heart disease, mean 8.9% (4.5%); diabetes, mean 10.3% (4.7%); and stroke, median 1.2% (range 0-10.9%). Greenery was negatively associated with diabetes (β = -5.85, 95% CI -9.53, -2.17) and stroke prevalence (β = -1.26, 95% CI -2.11, -0.42). PM and NO were positively associated with diabetes (β = 1.59, 95% CI 1.00, 2.18; β = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22, 0.62) and stroke prevalence (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.01, 0.29; β = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.10). The association between greenery and diabetes was partially mediated by PM (mediated effect -5.38, 95% CI -7.84, -3.03).

Conclusions: Greenery and air pollutants were associated with lower and higher prevalence, respectively, of self-reported diabetes and, to a lesser extent, stroke. These ecological findings require further exploration with stronger, longitudinal study designs to inform public health policy and directions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 208-214.