Tracking Restoration of Park and Urban Street Settings in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Regina Grazuleviciene, Jone Vencloviene, Raimondas Kubilius, Vytautas Grizas, Asta Danileviciute, Audrius Dedele, Sandra Andrusaityte, Astra Vitkauskiene, Rasa Steponaviciute and Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
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Regina Grazuleviciene: Department of Environmental Science, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, K. Donelaicio 58, Kaunas 44248, Lithuania
Jone Vencloviene: Department of Environmental Science, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, K. Donelaicio 58, Kaunas 44248, Lithuania
Raimondas Kubilius: Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas, Eivenių 2, Kaunas 50161, Lithuania
Vytautas Grizas: Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas, Kaunas 50161, Lithuania
Asta Danileviciute: Department of Environmental Science, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, K. Donelaicio 58, Kaunas 44248, Lithuania
Audrius Dedele: Department of Environmental Science, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, K. Donelaicio 58, Kaunas 44248, Lithuania
Sandra Andrusaityte: Department of Environmental Science, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, K. Donelaicio 58, Kaunas 44248, Lithuania
Astra Vitkauskiene: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Academy, Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas, Eiveniu Str. 2, Kaunas 50028, Lithuania
Rasa Steponaviciute: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Academy, Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas, Eiveniu Str. 2, Kaunas 50028, Lithuania
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: The physiological effects of natural and urban environments on the cardiovascular system of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients are not fully understood. This controlled field study examines the effects of restorative walking in a park vs. in an urban street environment on CAD patients’ stress parameters and cardiac function. Methods: Twenty stable CAD patients were randomly allocated to 7 days controlled walking in a city park or in an urban street environment group. The relationship between different environmental exposures and health effects was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and exact Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean reduction in cortisol levels and negative effects after the walk on the first day was greater in the city park than in the urban street exposed group, while a reduction in negative effects in the urban group were greater after seven days. The reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the park group was evident on the seventh day before the walk (?4 mm Hg, p = 0.031) and 60 min after the walk (?6.00 mm Hg, p = 0.002). The cortisol slope was negatively associated with the DBP changes ( r = ?0.514, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Physical activity in a green environment with noise and air pollution levels lower than in an urban environment has a greater positive effect on CAD patients’ stress level and hemodynamic parameters. Mitigating green environmental influences may allow urban residents to maintain health and reduce disability.

Keywords: physical activity; green space; urban environment; cardiovascular disease; cortisol; hemodynamic parameters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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