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Population cardiovascular health and urban environments: the Heart Healthy Hoods exploratory study in Madrid, Spaind
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Population cardiovascular health and urban environments: the Heart Healthy Hoods exploratory study in Madrid, Spaind

Usama Bilal, Julia Diez, Silvia Alfayate, Pedro Gullon, Isabel del Cura, Francisco Escobar, Maria Sandin, Manuel Franco and HHH Res Grp
BMC medical research methodology, v 16
22 Aug 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-016-0213-4
PMID: 27549991
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-016-0213-4View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Health Care Sciences & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology
Background: Our aim is to conduct an exploratory study to provide an in-depth characterization of a neighborhood's social and physical environment in relation to cardiovascular health. A mixed-methods approach was used to better understand the food, alcohol, tobacco and physical activity domains of the urban environment. Methods: We conducted this study in an area of 16,000 residents in Madrid (Spain). We obtained cardiovascular health and risk factors data from all residents aged 45 and above using Electronic Health Records from the Madrid Primary Health Care System. We used several quantitative audit tools to assess: the type and location of food outlets and healthy food availability; tobacco and alcohol points of sale; walkability of all streets and use of parks and public spaces. We also conducted 11 qualitative interviews with key informants to help understanding the relationships between urban environment and cardiovascular behaviors. We integrated quantitative and qualitative data following a mixed-methods merging approach. Results: Electronic Health Records of the entire population of the area showed similar prevalence of risk factors compared to the rest of Madrid/Spain (prevalence of diabetes: 12 So, hypertension: 34 So, dyslipidemia: 32 %, smoking: 10 %, obesity: 20 %). The food environment was very dense, with many small stores (n = 44) and a large food market with 112 stalls. Residents highlighted the importance of these small stores for buying healthy foods. Alcohol and tobacco environments were also very dense (n = 91 and 64, respectively), dominated by bars and restaurants (n = 53) that also acted as food services. Neighbors emphasized the importance of drinking as a socialization mechanism. Public open spaces were mostly used by seniors that remarked the importance of accessibility to these spaces and the availability of destinations to walk to. Conclusion: This experience allowed testing and refining measurement tools, drawn from epidemiology, geography, sociology and anthropology, to better understand the urban environment in relation to cardiovascular health.

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63 citations in Web of Science
63 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Health Care Sciences & Services
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