Creating Built Environments That Expand Active Transportation and Active Living Across the United States: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association

Toward Heart-Healthy and Sustainable Cities: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association

Nearly 56% of the global population lives in cities, with this number expected to increase to 6.6 billion or >70% of the world's population by 2050. Given that cardiometabolic diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people living in urban areas, transforming cities and urban provisioning systems (or urban systems) toward health, equity, and economic productivity can enable the dual attainment of climate and health goals. Seven urban provisioning systems that provide food, energy, mobility-connectivity, housing, green infrastructure, water management, and waste management lie at the core of human health, well-being, and sustainability. These provisioning systems transcend city boundaries (eg, demand for food, water, or energy is met by transboundary supply); thus, transforming the entire system is a larger construct than local urban environments. Poorly designed urban provisioning systems are starkly evident worldwide, resulting in unprecedented exposures to adverse cardiometabolic risk factors, including limited physical activity, lack of access to heart-healthy diets, and reduced access to greenery and beneficial social interactions. Transforming urban systems with a cardiometabolic health-first approach could be accomplished through integrated spatial planning, along with addressing current gaps in key urban provisioning systems. Such an approach will help mitigate undesirable environmental exposures and improve cardiovascular and metabolic health while improving planetary health. The purposes of this American Heart Association policy statement are to present a conceptual framework, summarize the evidence base, and outline policy principles for transforming key urban provisioning systems to heart-health and sustainability outcomes.

Walkability around the worksite and self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity among adults

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between GIS-measured worksite and home neighborhood walkability and several measures of physical activity (PA) in employed adults. Results revealed no significant correlation between worksite walkability and PA outcomes, contradicting the hypothesis of increased PA with improved walkability. However, for women and households without young children, a positive association was observed between worksite walkability and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Additionally, home neighborhood walkability was linked to self-reported walking. The study highlights the need for further research into social and environmental factors at worksites impacting PA, and examination of PA behaviors in the context of increased remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical Activity-Friendly Policies and Community Design Features in the US, 2014 and 2021

INTRODUCTION

The 2014 Community-Based Survey of Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living documented the prevalence of US municipal policy and community design supports for physical activity. The survey was repeated in 2021. Our study examined change in the prevalence of supports from 2014 to 2021, overall and by municipality characteristic.

METHODS

Municipalities were sampled independently each survey year. We calculated prevalence in 2014 and 2021 and the prevalence ratio (PR) for 15 supports covering zoning codes, park policies and budgets, design standards, Complete Streets policies, and shared use agreements. We used a Bonferroni-corrected Breslow-Day test to test for interaction by municipality characteristic.

RESULTS

In 2014 (2,009 municipalities) compared with 2021 (1,882 municipalities), prevalence increased for several zoning codes: block sizes of walkable distances (PR = 1.46), minimum sidewalk width (PR = 1.19), pedestrian amenities along streets (PR = 1.15), continuous sidewalk coverage (PR = 1.14), and building orientation to pedestrian scale (PR = 1.08). Prevalence also increased for design standards requiring dedicated bicycle infrastructure for roadway expansion projects or street retrofits (PR = 1.19). Prevalence declined for shared use agreements (PR = 0.87). The prevalence gap widened between the most and least populous municipalities for Complete Streets policies (from a gap of 33.6 percentage points [PP] in 2014 to 54.0 PP in 2021) and for zoning codes requiring block sizes that were walkable distances (from 11.8 PP to 41.4 PP).

CONCLUSION

To continue progress, more communities could consider adopting physical activity-friendly policies and design features.

Physical Activity Over the Lifecourse and Cardiovascular Disease

Despite improvements in cardiovascular care in recent decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death worldwide. At its core, CVD is a largely preventable disease with diligent risk factor management and early detection. As highlighted in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8, physical activity plays a central role in CVD prevention at an individual and population level. Despite pervasive knowledge of the numerous cardiovascular and noncardiovascular health benefits of physical activity, physical activity has steadily decreased over time and unfavorable changes in physical activity occur throughout people's lives. Here, we use a lifecourse framework to examine the evidence reporting on the association of physical activity with CVD. From in utero to older adults, we review and discuss the evidence detailing how physical activity may prevent incident CVD and mitigate CVD-related morbidity and death across all life stages.

Association Between Race and Receipt of Home- and Community-Based Rehabilitation After Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries

Importance

Non-Hispanic Black (hereafter Black) patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience worse long-term outcomes and residual disability compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter White) patients. Receipt of appropriate rehabilitation can improve function among older adults after TBI.

Objective

To assess the association between race and receipt of home- and community-based rehabilitation among a nationally representative sample of older Medicare beneficiaries with TBI.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study analyzed a random sample of Medicare administrative claims data for community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older who were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of TBI and discharged alive to a nonhospice setting from 2010 through 2018. Claims data for Medicare beneficiaries of other races and ethnicities were excluded due to the small sample sizes within each category. Data were analyzed January 21 to August 30, 2022.

Exposures

Black or White race.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Monthly use rates of home-based or outpatient rehabilitation were calculated over the 6 months after discharge from the hospital. The denominator for rate calculations accounted for variation in length of hospital and rehabilitation facility stays and loss to follow-up due to death. Rates over time were modeled using generalized estimating equations, controlling for TBI acuity, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors.

Results

Among 19 026 Medicare beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 81.6 [8.1] years; 10 781 women [56.7%]; and 994 Black beneficiaries [5.2%] and 18 032 White beneficiaries [94.8%]), receipt of 1 or more home health rehabilitation visits did not differ by race (Black vs White, 47.4% vs 46.2%; P = .46), but Black beneficiaries were less likely to receive 1 or more outpatient rehabilitation visits compared with White beneficiaries (3.4% vs 7.1%; P < .001). In fully adjusted regression models, Black beneficiaries received less outpatient therapy over the 6 months after TBI (rate ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38-0.93). However, Black beneficiaries received more home health rehabilitation therapy over the 6 months after TBI than White beneficiaries (rate ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.32).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study found relative shifts in rehabilitation use, with markedly lower outpatient therapy use and modestly higher home health care use among Black patients compared with White patients with TBI. These disparities may contribute to reduced functional recovery and residual disability among racial and ethnic minority groups. Additional studies are needed to assess the association between the amount of outpatient rehabilitation care and functional recovery after TBI in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.

How Do Perceived Changes in Child and Adolescent Activities Relate to Perceptions of Health during COVID-19? Exploring Heterogeneity during the Pandemic

COVID-19 affected child/adolescent activities (e.g., extra-curricular, screen time), along with physical health (PH) and mental health (MH); however, less is known about the relationship between changes in activities and PH and MH in the United States and how these relationships vary by race/ethnicity. To address this gap, data were used from a national survey (Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey) administered May-June 2021 (n = 853). Multinomial logistic regression explored changes in outdoor, school, extracurricular, friend, and screen time activities with changes in PH and MH; interactions explored moderation by race/ethnicity. Results showed increases in outdoor (RRR 2.36, p = 0.003), school (RRR 3.07, p < 0.001), and extracurricular activities (RRR 3.05, p < 0.001), which were associated with increases in chances of better PH. Better MH was more likely for children/adolescents where friend activities (RRR 3.34, p < 0.001) and extracurriculars (RRR 4.48, p < 0.001) increased. Except for extracurriculars, heterogeneous relationships were observed (e.g., increases and decreases in activities were simultaneously related to better and worse health). The relationship between outdoor activities and screen time with health were moderated by race/ethnicity. Findings support facilitating outdoor, school, extracurricular, and friend activities, which were positively related to health. Given heterogeneity and variation by race/ethnicity, more research is needed to understand the complex relationship between activities and health during COVID-19.

The Risk Model of Traffic Engineering Investment and Financing by Artificial Intelligence

This study aims to analyze the influencing factors and mechanisms of investment and financing risks in transportation projects so that regions do not restrict the transportation investment and financing risk models in all areas to achieve intelligent transportation financial risk assessment. Firstly, the investment and financing modes are studied and analyzed. According to the analysis of intellectual investment and the financing report of traffic engineering infrastructure, a traffic engineering investment and a financing model based on intelligent computing is established, which is based on artificial intelligence (AI) big data analysis technology. Secondly, the investment and the financing risk model of traffic engineering is established based on multimodal learning. Finally, the urban traffic engineering of Xi'an is taken as the research object. Based on its investment and financing data in the construction of urban roads, the risk assessment is carried out. Combined with risk influencing factors, the accuracy of the intelligent calculation in the risk assessment model is calculated. Different grades of urban transportation projects have different risks in the investment and financing of transportation projects. The results show that different levels of urban transport projects have different risks in the investment and financing (IAF) performance of transport projects. Among them, the risk index of the first-class project is the highest, reaching 0.55. The risk index of the second-class project is 0.49. The results before and after using the flow engineering IAF risk model are compared. In the test results of traffic engineering risk, all target risks did not increase after the AI-based traffic engineering IAF is tested. The model test results for credit risk and financial risk are the highest at 70 and 60, respectively. Combined with the actual urban development situation, this study can provide investment and financing risk models for urban transportation projects in different regions and provide a reference for the resource control of transportation projects. This study uses AI to learn and analyze traffic engineering investment and financing data and more accurately provide data references for traffic engineering investment and financing risk models.

Life's Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association's Construct of Cardiovascular Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

In 2010, the American Heart Association defined a novel construct of cardiovascular health to promote a paradigm shift from a focus solely on disease treatment to one inclusive of positive health promotion and preservation across the life course in populations and individuals. Extensive subsequent evidence has provided insights into strengths and limitations of the original approach to defining and quantifying cardiovascular health. In response, the American Heart Association convened a writing group to recommend enhancements and updates. The definition and quantification of each of the original metrics (Life's Simple 7) were evaluated for responsiveness to interindividual variation and intraindividual change. New metrics were considered, and the age spectrum was expanded to include the entire life course. The foundational contexts of social determinants of health and psychological health were addressed as crucial factors in optimizing and preserving cardiovascular health. This presidential advisory introduces an enhanced approach to assessing cardiovascular health: Life's Essential 8. The components of Life's Essential 8 include diet (updated), physical activity, nicotine exposure (updated), sleep health (new), body mass index, blood lipids (updated), blood glucose (updated), and blood pressure. Each metric has a new scoring algorithm ranging from 0 to 100 points, allowing generation of a new composite cardiovascular health score (the unweighted average of all components) that also varies from 0 to 100 points. Methods for implementing cardiovascular health assessment and longitudinal monitoring are discussed, as are potential data sources and tools to promote widespread adoption in policy, public health, clinical, institutional, and community settings.

Physical Activity Impacts of an Activity-Friendly Community: A Natural Experiment Study Protocol

Background

Stakeholders from multiple sectors are increasingly aware of the critical need for identifying sustainable interventions that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. Activity-friendly communities (AFCs) have been known to provide opportunities for engaging in physical activity (PA) across the life course, which is a key to healthy living and healthy aging.

Purpose

Our purpose is to describe the study protocol developed for a research project that examines: (a) the short- and long-term changes in total levels and spatial and temporal patterns of PA after individuals move from non-AFCs to an AFC; and (b) what built and natural environmental factors lead to changes in PA resulting from such a move, either directly or indirectly (e.g., by affecting psychosocial factors related to PA).

Methods

This protocol is for a longitudinal, case-comparison study utilizing a unique natural experiment opportunity in Austin, Texas, USA. Case participants were those adults who moved from non-AFCs to an AFC. Matching comparison participants were residents from similar non-AFCs who did not move during the study period. Recruitment venues included local businesses, social and print media, community events, and individual referrals. Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA and associated spatial and temporal patterns served as the key outcomes of interest. Independent (e.g., physical environments), confounding (e.g., demographic factors), and mediating variables (e.g., psychosocial factors) were captured using a combination of objective (e.g., GIS, GPS, Tanita scale) and subjective measures (e.g., survey, travel diary). Statistical analyses will be conducted using multiple methods, including difference-in-differences models, repeated-measures linear mixed models, hierarchical marked space-time Poisson point pattern analysis, and hierarchical linear mixed models.

Conclusion

Natural experiment studies help investigate causal relationships between health and place. However, multiple challenges associated with participant recruitment, extensive and extended data collection activities, and unpredictable intervention schedules have discouraged many researchers from implementing such studies in community-based populations. This detailed study protocol will inform the execution of future studies to explore how AFCs impact population health across the life course.

Addressing social and racial justice in public policy for healthy living

Long-standing health disparities stemming from the historical, inequitable distribution of wealth, power, and privilege in the United States exist across almost every health indicator and outcome. There is a need for equitable policy, systems, and environment changes that are rooted in an understanding of the historical arc of structural racism across obesity prevention and treatment, ending tobacco and nicotine addiction and increasing access to healthy, affordable foods and physical activity opportunities and infrastructure. This paper explores the influence of structural inequities on the proliferation of health-compromising social conditions, and opportunities to leverage the policymaking process at the local, state, and federal levels to cultivate environments that support healthy living. Policy makers, community change leaders and advocacy organizations, with powerful grassroots voices can catalyze movements, advocacy campaigns and equitable policy change that address race and social justice and support healthy living for all.

Multi-use physical activity trails in an urban setting and cardiovascular disease: a difference-in-differences analysis of a natural experiment in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Objective

To determine if expansion of multi-use physical activity trails in an urban centre is associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

This was a natural experiment with a difference in differences analysis using administrative health records and trail-based cycling data in Winnipeg, Canada. Prior to the intervention, each year, 314,595 (IQR: 309,044 to 319,860) persons over 30 years without CVD were in the comparison group and 37,901 residents (IQR: 37,213 to 38,488) were in the intervention group. Following the intervention, each year, 303,853 (IQR: 302,843 to 304,465) persons were in the comparison group and 35,778 (IQR: 35,551 to 36,053) in the intervention group. The natural experiment was the construction of four multi-use trails, 4-7 km in length, between 2010 and 2012. Intervention and comparison areas were based on buffers of 400 m, 800 m and 1200 m from a new multi-use trail. Bicycle counts were obtained from electromagnetic counters embedded in the trail. The primary outcome was a composite of incident CVD events: CVD-related mortality, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular events and congestive heart failure. The secondary outcome was a composite of incident CVD risk factors: hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Results

Between 2014 and 2018, 1,681,125 cyclists were recorded on the trails, which varied ~ 2.0-fold across the four trails (2358 vs 4264 counts/week in summer months). Between 2000 and 2018, there were 82,632 CVD events and 201,058 CVD risk events. In propensity score matched Poisson regression models, the incident rate ratio (IRR) was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.24) for CVD events and 0.95 (95%CI: 0.88 to 1.02) for CVD risk factors for areas within 400 m of a trail, relative to comparison areas. Sensitivity analyses indicated this effect was greatest among households adjacent to the trail with highest cycling counts (IRR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.96).

Conclusions

The addition of multi-use trails was not associated with differences in CVD events or CVD risk factors, however the differences in CVD risk may depend on the level of trail use.

Trial registration

Trial registration number: NCT04057417.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-022-01279-z.

A national survey of physical activity after spinal cord injury

Physical activity is a powerful modifiable risk factor for disease and mortality. Physical activity levels in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have not been quantified relative to uninjured individuals in a large population-based sample. We aimed to quantify and compare physical activity in people with and without SCI, and to examine the associations between physical activity, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. The 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (n > 57,000) was used, which includes three measures that assess physical activity levels (i.e., leisure time activity frequency, leisure time activity intensity, and transportation time activity intensity). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The odds of physical activity in people with SCI were 0.43 (95% CI 0.3–0.61), 0.53 (95% CI 0.36–0.75), and 0.42 (95% CI 0.28–0.61), across the three measures of physical activity, respectively. These differences persisted after adjustment for lifestyle, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors. Physical activity is reduced in the SCI population compared with the general population. This knowledge is important to direct future research and guide the allocation of health care resources.

Effects of Large-Scale Municipal Safe Routes to School Infrastructure on Student Active Travel and Physical Activity: Design, Methods, and Baseline Data of the Safe Travel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools (STREETS) Natural Experiment

Past evaluations of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs have been relatively small in scope and have lacked objective measurements of physical activity. A 2016 Mobility Bond in Austin, Texas, USA, allocated USD 27.5 million for infrastructure changes to facilitate active commuting to schools (ACS). The Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools (STREETS) study aims to determine the health effects of these infrastructure changes. The purpose of this paper is to describe the STREETS study design, methods, and selected baseline results. The STREETS study is comprised of two designs: (1) a serial cross-sectional design to assess changes in ACS prevalence, and (2) a quasi-experimental, prospective cohort to examine changes in physical activity. Differences between study arms (Austin SRTS and comparison) were assessed for school demographics, ACS, and school programs. At baseline, 14.3% of school trips were made by ACS, with non-significant differences between study arms. Only 26% of schools implemented ACS-related programs. Some significant differences across SRTS and comparison schools were identified for several school- and neighborhood-level characteristics. Substantial changes are needed across area schools and neighborhoods to promote optimum ACS. STREETS study longitudinal findings will be critical for informing optimal future implementations of SRTS programs.

COVID-19, Social Determinants of Health, and Opportunities for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease: A Conceptual Framework

The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted the social, economic, and health care systems in the United States and shined a spotlight on the burden of disease associated with social determinants of health (SDOH). Addressing SDOH, while a challenge, provides important opportunities to mitigate cardiovascular disease incidence, morbidity, and mortality. We present a conceptual framework to examine the differential effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on SDOH across demographically diverse populations, focusing on the short‐ and long‐term development of cardiovascular disease, as well as future research opportunities for cardiovascular disease prevention. The COVID‐19 pandemic exerted negative shifts in SDOH and cardiovascular risk factors (ie, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, dietary behavior, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar). For example, evidence suggests that unemployment and food insecurity have increased, whereas health care access and income have decreased; changes to SDOH have resulted in increases in loneliness and processed food consumption, as well as decreases in physical activity and hypertension management. We found that policy measures enacted to mitigate economic, social, and health issues inadequately protected populations. Low‐income and racial and ethnic minority communities, historically underserved populations, were not only disproportionately adversely affected by the pandemic but also less likely to receive assistance, likely attributable in part to the deep structural inequities pervasive in our society. Effective and culturally appropriate interventions are needed to mitigate the negative health impacts of historical systems, policies, and programs that created and maintain structural racism, especially for immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, and populations experiencing social disadvantage.

Associations Between Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Disease in the United States

BACKGROUND

Active commuting is inversely related with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors yet associations with CVD prevalence in the US population are unknown.

METHODS

Aggregate data from national surveys conducted in 2017 provided state-level percentages of adults who have/had coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and who actively commuted to work. Associations between active commuting and CVD prevalence rates were assessed using Pearson correlations and generalized additive models controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were observed between active commuting and all CVD rates (r range = -.31 to -.47; P < .05). The generalized additive model analyses for active commuting (walking, cycling, or public transport) in all adults found no relationships with CVD rates; however, a significant curvilinear association was observed for stroke within men. The generalized additive model curves when examining commuting via walking or cycling in all adults demonstrated nuanced, generally negative linear or curvilinear associations between coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

CONCLUSION

Significant negative correlations were observed between active commuting and prevalence rates of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Controlling for covariates influenced these associations and highlights the need for future research to explore the potential of active commuting modes to reduce CVD in the United States.

Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients

OBJECTIVES

To compare hospitalisation rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality for patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive, doing some activity or consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.

METHODS

We identified 48 440 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 1 January 2020 to 21 October 2020, with at least three exercise vital sign measurements from 19 March 2018 to 18 March 2020. We linked each patient's self-reported physical activity category (consistently inactive=0-10 min/week, some activity=11-149 min/week, consistently meeting guidelines=150+ min/week) to the risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission and death after COVID-19 diagnosis. We conducted multivariable logistic regression controlling for demographics and known risk factors to assess whether inactivity was associated with COVID-19 outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalisation (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.81 to 2.83), admission to the ICU (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.55) and death (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.33 to 4.67) due to COVID-19 than patients who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines. Patients who were consistently inactive also had a greater risk of hospitalisation (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.32), admission to the ICU (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.29) and death (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.60) due to COVID-19 than patients who were doing some physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritised by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.

Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients

OBJECTIVES

To compare hospitalisation rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality for patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive, doing some activity or consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.

METHODS

We identified 48 440 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 1 January 2020 to 21 October 2020, with at least three exercise vital sign measurements from 19 March 2018 to 18 March 2020. We linked each patient's self-reported physical activity category (consistently inactive=0-10 min/week, some activity=11-149 min/week, consistently meeting guidelines=150+ min/week) to the risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission and death after COVID-19 diagnosis. We conducted multivariable logistic regression controlling for demographics and known risk factors to assess whether inactivity was associated with COVID-19 outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalisation (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.81 to 2.83), admission to the ICU (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.55) and death (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.33 to 4.67) due to COVID-19 than patients who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines. Patients who were consistently inactive also had a greater risk of hospitalisation (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.32), admission to the ICU (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.29) and death (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.60) due to COVID-19 than patients who were doing some physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritised by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.

Treating two pandemics for the price of one: Chronic and infectious disease impacts of the built and natural environment

Compact walkable environments with greenspace support physical activity and reduce the risk for depression and several obesity-related chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Recent evidence confirms that these chronic diseases increase the severity of COVID-19 infection and mortality risk. Conversely, denser transit supportive environments may increase risk of exposure to COVID-19 suggesting the potential for contrasting chronic versus infectious disease impacts of community design. A handful of recent studies have examined links between density and COVID-19 mortality rates reporting conflicting results. Population density has been used as a surrogate of urban form to capture the degree of walkability and public transit versus private vehicle travel demand. The current study employs a broader range of built environment features (density, design, and destination accessibility) and assesses how chronic disease mediates the relationship between built and natural environment and COVID-19 mortality. Negative and significant relationships are observed between built and natural environment features and COVID-19 mortality when accounting for the mediating effect of chronic disease. Findings underscore the importance of chronic disease when assessing relationships between COVID-19 mortality and community design. Based on a rigorous simulation-assisted random parameter path analysis framework, we further find that the relationships between COVID-19 mortality, obesity, and key correlates exhibit significant heterogeneity. Ignoring this heterogeneity in highly aggregate spatial data can lead to incorrect conclusions with regards to the relationship between built environment and COVID-19 transmission. Results presented here suggest that creating walkable environments with greenspace is associated with reduced risk of chronic disease and/or COVID-19 infection and mortality.

A pediatrician's guide to climate change-informed primary care

Despite the urgency of the climate crisis and mounting evidence linking climate change to child health harms, pediatricians do not routinely engage with climate change in the office. Each primary care visit offers opportunities to screen for and support children burdened with risks to health that are increasingly intense due to climate change. Routine promotion of healthy behaviors also aligns with some needed-and powerful-solutions to the climate crisis. For some patients, including those engaged in athletics, those with asthma and allergies, or those with complex healthcare needs, preparedness for environmental risks and disasters worsened by climate change is a critical component of disease prevention and management. For all patients, anticipatory guidance topics that are already mainstays of pediatric best practices are related closely to needed guidance to keep children safe and promote health in the setting of compounding risks due to climate change. By considering climate change in routine care, pediatricians will be updating practice to align with evidence-based literature and better serving patients. This article provides a framework for pediatricians to provide climate-informed primary care during the structure of pediatric well child and other visits.

The Benefits and Limits of Urban Tree Planting for Environmental and Human Health

Many of the world’s major cities have implemented tree planting programs based on assumed environmental and social benefits of urban forests. Recent studies have increasingly tested these assumptions and provide empirical evidence for the contributions of tree planting programs, as well as their feasibility and limits, for solving or mitigating urban environmental and social issues. We propose that current evidence supports local cooling, stormwater absorption, and health benefits of urban trees for local residents. However, the potential for urban trees to appreciably mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution over a wide array of sites and environmental conditions is limited. Consequently, urban trees appear to be more promising for climate and pollution adaptation strategies than mitigation strategies. In large part, this is due to space constraints limiting the extent of urban tree canopies relative to the current magnitude of emissions. The most promising environmental and health impacts of urban trees are those that can be realized with well-stewarded tree planting and localized design interventions at site to municipal scales. Tree planting at these scales has documented benefits on local climate and health, which can be maximized through targeted site design followed by monitoring, adaptive management, and studies of long-term eco-evolutionary dynamics.

Current Activities Centered on Healthy Living and Recommendations for the Future: A Position Statement from the HL-PIVOT Network

We continue to increase our cognizance and recognition of the importance of healthy living (HL) behaviors and HL medicine (HLM) to prevent and treat chronic disease. The continually unfolding events precipitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have further highlighted the importance of HL behaviors, as indicated by the characteristics of those who have been hospitalized and died from this viral infection. There has already been recognition that leading a healthy lifestyle, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, may have a substantial protective effect in those who become infected with the virus. Now more than ever, HL behaviors and HLM are essential and must be promoted with a renewed vigor across the globe. In response to the rapidly evolving world since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the clear need to change lifestyle behaviors to promote human resilience and quality of life, the HL for Pandemic Event Protection (HL-PIVOT) network was established. The 4 major areas of focus for the network are: (1) knowledge discovery and dissemination; (2) education; (3) policy; (4) implementation. This HL-PIVOT network position statement provides a current synopsis of the major focus areas of the network, including leading research in the field of HL behaviors and HLM, examples of best practices in education, policy, and implementation, and recommendations for the future.

Increasing physical activity in the community setting

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for both mental and physical health, yet many individuals do not meet PA recommendations. There are a multitude of approaches to increase levels of PA and the role of the community is one area of growing interest. This review discusses the community environment as well as programs within the community and their influence on PA levels. Despite some research limitations, there are clear factors associated with community-based PA. Strategies that improve the built environment along with community-based programs have shown success, although differences between the characteristics of communities can mean strategies to promote PA are not universally effective. Additional research is needed on effective strategies that can be tailored to the characteristics of the community to increase PA. Further, public health interventions and policies should consider the role of the community when aiming to increase PA levels.

Built Environment Approaches to Increase Physical Activity: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association

Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to improve their cardiovascular health; however, population levels of physical activity remain low in the United States. Effective population-based approaches implemented in communities can help increase physical activity among all Americans. Evidence suggests that built environment interventions offer one such approach. These interventions aim to create or modify community environmental characteristics to make physical activity easier or more accessible for all people in the places where they live. In 2016, the Community Preventive Services Task Force released a recommendation for built environment approaches to increase physical activity. This recommendation is based on a systematic review of 90 studies (search period, 1980-June 2014) conducted using methods outlined by the Guide to Community Preventive Services. The Community Preventive Services Task Force found sufficient evidence of effectiveness to recommend combined built environment strategies. Specifically, these strategies combine interventions to improve pedestrian or bicycle transportation systems with interventions to improve land use and environmental design. Components of transportation systems can include street pattern design and connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, and public transit infrastructure and access. Components of land use and environmental design can include mixed land use, increased residential density, proximity to community or neighborhood destinations, and parks and recreational facility access. Implementing this Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation in communities across the United States can help promote healthy and active living, increase physical activity, and ultimately improve cardiovascular health.