Exposure to green space, nighttime light, air pollution, and noise and cardiovascular disease risk: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Current literature lacks information regarding impacts of green spaces on susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD) related to harmful environmental exposures. The UK Biobank cohort study was utilized to investigate whether green spaces can mitigate risks associated with air pollutants, nighttime light, noise, and traffic intensity. Latent Profile Analysis was performed on green spaces and adverse environmental exposures in order to assess individual level exposure. Cox proportional risk models were employed to calculate hazard ratios for the risk of cerebrovascular diseases related to individual and joint adverse environmental exposures. Among participants in domestic garden group (DGG, higher proportion of domestic garden and lower proportion of other green space), adverse environmental exposures was associated with increased risks of cerebrovascular disease. However, these associations were no longer observed in other green space group (GSG, lower proportion of domestic garden and higher proportion of other green space). Interestingly the opposite effect occurred in participants with heart failure (HF) onset, where adverse environmental exposures were associated with increased risk of HF in GSG, and these associations were no longer observed in DGG. Domestic gardens may mitigate the risk of HF caused by adverse environmental exposures, and natural and water environments may offset the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Consequently, there are policy implications for improving urban green space planning to maximize their protective effects.