Neighborhood greenness, but not walkability, is associated with self-rated measures of health in older adults: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Irmina Klicnik; Andrew Putman; Dany Doiron; Caroline Barakat; Chris I Ardern; David Rudoler; Shilpa Dogra

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102018

Neighborhood greenness, but not walkability, is associated with self-rated measures of health in older adults: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Prev Med Rep. 2022 Oct 11:30:102018. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102018. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Irmina Klicnik¹, Andrew Putman¹, Dany Doiron², Caroline Barakat¹, Chris I Ardern³, David Rudoler¹, Shilpa Dogra¹

Affiliations

¹ University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5, Canada.
² Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 De Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3S5, Canada.
³ York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada.

Abstract

The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether older Canadians residing in neighborhoods characterized by denser greenness or higher walkability have better self-reported health outcomes at 3-year follow-up. Data on self-reported chronic diseases (composite score of 10 conditions) and self-rated measures of health (general health, mental health, and healthy aging) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) were used as outcomes. The CLSA database was linked with the Canadian Active Living Environments (Can-ALE), a measure of walkability, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a measure of greenness. The analytic sample consisted of adults aged 65 and older (n = 15339, age 72.9 ± 5.6, 50 % female). Crude and adjusted associations were assessed using Poisson regression and proportional odds regression modelling. The 4th quartile of greenness was associated with the chronic disease index and all three measures of self-rated health (general health, mental health, and healthy aging); living in a neighborhood with the highest greenness was associated with better health three years later when compared to those in the lowest quartile of greenness. After adjustment for covariates of age, sex, income, education, and physical activity levels, only the association for the 3rd quartile of greenness was significantly associated with general health (OR: 0.90, 95 %CI: 0.81-0.99) and mental health (OR: 0.88, 95 %CI: 0.79-0.97). Can-ALE was not associated with any of the outcomes assessed. Future research assessing perceived environmental walkability and geriatric relevant health outcomes rather than chronic disease may provide greater insight into our understanding of age-friendly environments.

Keywords: Aging; Built environment; CLSA; Walkability.