The Influence of Proximity to City Parks on Blood Pressure in Early Pregnancy

Regina Grazuleviciene, Audrius Dedele, Asta Danileviciute, Jone Vencloviene, Tomas Grazulevicius, Sandra Andrusaityte, Inga Uzdanaviciute and Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
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Regina Grazuleviciene: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Audrius Dedele: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Asta Danileviciute: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Jone Vencloviene: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Tomas Grazulevicius: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Sandra Andrusaityte: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Inga Uzdanaviciute: Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio G. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248, Lithuania
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of proximity to city parks on blood pressure categories during the first trimester of pregnancy. This cross-sectional study included 3,416 female residents of the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, who were enrolled in the FP7 PHENOTYPE project study. The women were classified into four blood pressure categories: optimal, normal, high-normal blood pressure, and hypertension. Multinomial regression models were used to investigate the association between three women’s groups with respect to the residence distances from city parks (300, >300–1,000, and >1,000 m) and four blood pressure categories. When using the optimal blood pressure as the reference group, the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) for normal blood pressure and for high-normal blood pressure proved to be statistically significantly higher after the inclusion of the selected covariates into the regression analysis. The probability of normal blood pressure increased by 9%, and that of high-normal blood pressure—by 14% for every 300 m increase in the distance to green spaces. The findings of this study suggest a beneficial impact of nearby city parks on blood pressure amongst 20- to 45-year-old women. This relationship has important implications for the prevention of hypertension and the reduction of hypertension-related morbidity.

Keywords: city park proximity; blood pressure groups; women; GIS; multinomial regression analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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