Dataset Information

Impact of neighbourhood walkability on the onset of multimorbidity: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Multimorbidity has become highly prevalent around the globe and been associated with adverse health outcomes and cost of care. The built environment has become an important dimension in response to obesity and associated chronic diseases by addressing population sedentariness and low physical activity.

Objective

The aim of the following study was to examine whether there was an increased risk for multimorbidity for those living in less walkable neighbourhoods. It was hypothesised that participants residing in less walkable neighbourhoods would have a higher risk for multimorbidity.

Setting

City of Toronto and 14 neighbouring regions/municipalities within Ontario, Canada.

Participants

Study participants who had completed the Canadian Community Health Survey between the year 2000 and 2012, between 20 and 64 and 65 and 95 years of age, residing within a neighbourhood captured in the Walkability Index, and who were not multimorbid at the time of interview, were selected.

Intervention

The Walkability Index was the key exposure in the study, which is divided into quintiles (1-least, 5-most walkable neighbourhoods). Participants were retrospectively allocated to one of five quintiles based on their area of residency (at the time of interview) and followed for a maximum of 16 years.

Primary outcome measure

Becoming multimorbid with two chronic conditions.

Secondary outcome measure

Becoming multimorbid with three chronic conditions.

Results

Risk for multimorbidity (two chronic conditions) was highest in least compared with most walkable neighbourhoods with an HR of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.28, p=0.0230). While results showed an overall gradient response between decreased walkability and increased risk for multimorbidity, they were not statistically significant across all quintiles or in the older-adult cohort (65-95 years of age).

Conclusion

Study results seem to suggest that low neighbourhood walkability may be a risk factor for multimorbidity over time. More studies are needed to examine whether neighbourhood walkability is a potential solution for multimorbidity prevention at the population level.

SUBMITTER: Moin JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8061868 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Impact of neighbourhood walkability on the onset of multimorbidity: a cohort study.

Moin John Sina JS Glazier Richard H RH Kuluski Kerry K Kiss Alex A Upshur Ross R

BMJ open 20210421 4

Multimorbidity has become highly prevalent around the globe and been associated with adverse health outcomes and cost of care. The built environment has become an important dimension in response to obesity and associated chronic diseases by addressing population sedentariness and low physical activity.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of the following study was to examine whether there was an increased risk for multimorbidity for those living in less walkable neighbourhoods. It was hypothesised that par ...[more]

PMID: 33883154

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Project description:ObjectivesStudies have investigated the influence of neighbourhood walkability on residents' walking behaviour, aiming to increase physical activity and reduce dependence on automobiles. Previous research, however, has not considered how the amount of time spent in the residential neighbourhood may modify this relationship. Our objective was to determine how time spent in the residential neighbourhood affects the relationship between neighbourhood walkability and walking for transport.DesignUsing a cross-sectional sample of 2411 adults, we analysed the association between walkability (an index combining land-use mix, dwelling density and street connectivity) and transport-related walking (controlling for the effects of gender, age, income, self-rated health and regular access to private transport) testing for interactions by time spent in the neighbourhood.Primary outcome measureMinutes spent walking for transport per week.SettingToronto, Canada.ParticipantsParticipants were aged 25 to 65. The survey had a 72% response rate.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, the walkability index was weakly associated with walking (1 SD of walkability score is associated with 0.25 more minutes walking/week, p<0.01). Land-use mix was more strongly associated with walking than the walkability index. Time spent at the residential neighbourhood modified the relationship between land-use mix and transport-related walking in a dose-effect manner (p<0.01), those spending 5 hours on average at their residential neighbourhood have 0.2 min/day more walking for each additional land-use mix score and those spending 12 hours have 0.5 min/day more walking for each additional land-use mix score.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that walkability is associated with increased walking time, but it is modified by time spent in the neighbourhood. Our study underscores the importance of testing 'time spent in the neighbourhood' as a modifier of environmental exposures in studies of environmental correlates of walking.

Dataset Information

Impact of neighbourhood walkability on the onset of multimorbidity: a cohort study.

Objective

Setting

Participants

Intervention

Primary outcome measure

Secondary outcome measure

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Impact of neighbourhood walkability on the onset of multimorbidity: a cohort study.

Similar Datasets

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