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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment and selected cardiovascular risk factors in a South African urban setting

Authors: Pasmore Malambo, Anniza De Villiers, Estelle V. Lambert, Thandi Puoane, Andre P. Kengne

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Evidence concerning the relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment with cardio-metabolic risk in populations from lower- and middle-income countries is lacking. In this paper, we describe the association between the objectively-measured built environment with body mass index, blood pressure and physical activity in adult South Africans.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 341 adults aged ≥35 years drawn from the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort study. All Cape Town PURE participants were invited to take part in the study. Actigraph GT3X accelerometer and Geographic Information Systems were used to measure physical activity and built environment attributes (community center, shopping center and taxi rank).

Results

In age and sex adjusted models (reference 500 m), access to community centers (1000 m) was positively related to body mass index [beta 4.70 (95%CI: 2.06 to 7.34)] and diastolic blood pressure [4.97 (0.00 to 9.95)]. Distance from a community center (1600 m) was positively related to diastolic blood pressure [6.58 (1.57 to 11.58)] and inversely with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [− 69.30 (− 134.92 to − 3.70)]. Distance to a shopping center (1600 m) was positively related to body mass index [4.78 (1.11 to 8.45)] and shopping center (1000 m) was positively related to systolic blood pressure respectively [76.99 (0.03 to 83.95)].

Conclusion

Distance to community and shopping centers were significantly associated with BMI, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Future research should include multiple aspects of built environment variables in order to provide for a broader understanding of their effect on cardiovascular risk profile of African populations.

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Title: The relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment and selected cardiovascular risk factors in a South African urban setting
Authors: Pasmore Malambo
Anniza De Villiers
Estelle V. Lambert
Thandi Puoane
Andre P. Kengne
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5772-3

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

The relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment and selected cardiovascular risk factors in a South African urban setting

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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