Journal article
Spatial and neighborhood data in the collaborative cohort of cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R)
PloS one, v 21(7), e0352170
01 Jul 2026
PMID: 42485397
Abstract
Neighborhood factors, encompassing social, built, and natural environments, may explain geographic differences in the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on populations. Data from pre-existing national, population-based cohorts could be leveraged to better understand how pre-existing conditions (both individual and neighborhood) contribute to risk factor development and disease progression. We catalogued spatial and neighborhood data in the Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R), comprising 14 diverse US cohorts (>50,000 participants). The C4R sample is generally spatially and socially representative of the overall nation, with C4R's calculated spatial coverage representing 28% of US land area and 52% of the total US population. However, C4R (vs. non C4R) areas were more urban, wealthy, with more foreign-born residents, and less car-dependent with lower proportion employed and green. Twelve cohorts collected neighborhood characteristics - most commonly social environment data on neighborhood socioeconomic status- based on participants' addresses. The most common built environment measures were related to food access, followed by other destination-based measures such as walkability. Natural environment data were available in the fewest cohorts, with emphasis on air quality or greenspace. This work provides clarity on available neighborhood and spatial data and facilitates future harmonization of data from C4R cohorts. Ultimately, this may enable future longitudinal and comparative analyses of neighborhood influences on COVID-19.
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Details
- Title
- Spatial and neighborhood data in the collaborative cohort of cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R)
- Creators
- Jana A Hirsch (Corresponding Author) - Drexel UniversityLilah M Besser - University of MiamiMarcia Pescador Jimenez - Boston UniversityStephen T Dickinson - Drexel UniversityTalea Cornelius - Columbia University Irving Medical CenterStephen T Francisco - Drexel UniversityKatherine Lawin - Columbia University Irving Medical CenterHoda S Abdel Magid - Department of Population and Public Health Sciences and Spatial Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of AmericaSandra S Albrecht - Columbia UniversityNorrina Bai Allen - Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of AmericaPallavi Balte - Columbia University Irving Medical CenterSharrelle Barber - Drexel UniversityLori A Bateman - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillLauren B Beach - Northwestern UniversityJason P Block - Harvard Pilgrim Health CareScott C Brown - University of MiamiRussell G Buhr - University of California, Los AngelesEarle C Chambers - Albert Einstein College of MedicineJames L Crooks - National Jewish HealthAna V Diez Roux - Drexel UniversityMitchell S V Elkind - Columbia UniversityLinda C Gallo - San Diego State UniversityPenny Gordon-Larsen - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillJose Gutierrez - Columbia UniversityCarmen R Isasi - Albert Einstein College of MedicinePeter James - Center for Environmental HealthSuzanne E Judd - University of Alabama at BirminghamAlka M Kanaya - University of California, San FranciscoNamratha R Kandula - Northwestern UniversityJoel D Kaufman - University of WashingtonKiarri N Kershaw - Northwestern UniversityAnna M Kucharska-Newton - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillErin R Kulick - Temple UniversityJoyce S Lee - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusGina S Lovasi - Drexel UniversityDave Mauger - Pennsylvania State UniversityLeslie A McClure - Saint Louis UniversitySteven Melly - Drexel UniversitySharon Stein Merkin - University of California, Los AngelesYvonne L Michael - Drexel UniversityGabriela R Oates - University of Alabama at BirminghamBrenda R Phillips - Pennsylvania State UniversityJessica A Reese - University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterElizabeth A Regan - National Jewish HealthCameron J Reimer - Boston UniversityDaniel A Rodriguez - University of California, BerkeleyTatjana Rundek - University of MiamiMichael Schembri - University of California, San FranciscoMario Sims - University of California, RiversideNicole L Spartano - Boston UniversityCarla Wilson - National Jewish HealthYiyi Zhang - Columbia University Irving Medical CenterElizabeth C Oelsner - Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 21(7), e0352170
- Publisher
- PLOS
- Number of pages
- 22
- Grant note
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: R01ES030994 R01ES023500 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: R01NS29993 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging: U01NS041588 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: R01DK106209 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: NHLBI-CONNECTS OT2HL156812 Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program (CURE): 4100072543 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR): RD831697 RD-83830001 National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities: P60MD002249 & P60MD002249-05S1 National Institute on Aging: RF1AG074306
This study was financially supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov] in the form of grants received by ECO (NHLBI-CONNECTS OT2HL156812), PGL (R01HL104580 and R01HL114091), SCB (R01HL148880), LCG (RC2HL101649), AVD (R01HL071759), AMK (R01HL093009 & R01HL149809), NRK (R01HL120725), SB (R01HL148431), & DM (U10HL109086). This study was also financially supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [https://www.niddk.nih.gov] in the form of a grant received by LCG (R01DK106209). This study was also financially supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [https://www.niehs.nih.gov] in the form of grants received by JDK (R01ES030994 & R01ES023500). This study was also financially supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [https://www.nimhd.nih.gov] in the form of grants received by AVD (P60MD002249 & P60MD002249-05S1). This study was also financially supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) [https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/star] research assistance agreements in the form of grants received by JDK (RD831697 & RD-83830001). This study was also financially supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [https://www.ninds.nih.gov] in the form of a grant received by TR (R01NS29993). This study was also financially supported by the National Institute on Aging [https://www.nia.nih.gov] in the form of grants received by TR & SCB (RF1AG074306), JAH (R01AG072634), & GSL (R01AG049970, R01AG049970-S1, & R56AG049970. This study was also financially supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging cooperative agreement in the form of a grant (U01NS041588) received by SEJ. This study was also financially supported by the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program (CURE) through the Pennsylvania Department of Health [https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/research/research/cure] in the form of a grant received by GSL (4100072543). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute on Aging, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Representatives of the NINDS were involved in the review of the manuscript but were not directly involved in the collection, management, analysis or interpretation of the data. The work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not been formally reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors, and the Environmental Protection Agency does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001828773900021
- Other Identifier
- 991022197391104721