Zhiqiang Nie1, Boyi Yang2, Yanqiu Ou1, Michael S Bloom3, Fengzhen Han4, Yanji Qu1, Philip Nasca3, Rosemary Matale3, Jinzhuang Mai1, Yong Wu1, Xiangmin Gao1, Yuming Guo2, Iana Markevych2, Yuxuan Zou5, Shao Lin6, Guanghui Dong7, Xiaoqing Liu8. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China. 2. Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China. 3. Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA. 4. Department of Obstetrics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan 2nd Road , Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China. 5. School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510080, China. 6. Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA. Electronic address: slin@albany.edu. 7. Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: donggh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn. 8. Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: drliuxiaoqing@gdph.org.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Proximity to greenness has shown protective effects on coronary heart diseases by limiting exposure to environmental hazards, encouraging physical activity, and reducing mental stress. However, no studies have previously evaluated the impacts of greenness on congenital heart defects (CHDs). We examined the association between maternal residential greenness and the risks of CHDs. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study (8042 children with major CHDs and 6887 controls without malformations) in 21 cities in Southern China, 2004 - 2016. CHDs cases were diagnosed and verified by obstetrician, pediatrician, or pediatric cardiologists, within one year. We estimated maternal residential greenness using satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in zones of 500 meters (m) and 1000 m surrounding participants' residences. Logistic regression models were used to assess NDVI-CHD relationships adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Interquartile range NDVI increases within 500 m or 1000 m were associated with odds ratios (OR) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 0.98) and 0.94 (95%CI: 0.91, 0.97) for total CHDs respectively. Air pollutants mediated 52.1% of the association. We also identified a protective threshold at 0.21 NDVI on CHD. Similar protective effects from greenness were found in most CHDs subtypes. The protective associations were stronger for fall, urban or permanent residents, higher household income maternal age ≤35 years of age, and high maternal education (ORs: ranged from 0.85 to 0.96). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a beneficial effect of maternal residential greenness on CHDs. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings, which will help to refine preventive health and urban design strategies.
BACKGROUND: Proximity to greenness has shown protective effects on coronary heart diseases by limiting exposure to environmental hazards, encouraging physical activity, and reducing mental stress. However, no studies have previously evaluated the impacts of greenness on congenital heart defects (CHDs). We examined the association between maternal residential greenness and the risks of CHDs. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study (8042 children with major CHDs and 6887 controls without malformations) in 21 cities in Southern China, 2004 - 2016. CHDs cases were diagnosed and verified by obstetrician, pediatrician, or pediatric cardiologists, within one year. We estimated maternal residential greenness using satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in zones of 500 meters (m) and 1000 m surrounding participants' residences. Logistic regression models were used to assess NDVI-CHD relationships adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Interquartile range NDVI increases within 500 m or 1000 m were associated with odds ratios (OR) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 0.98) and 0.94 (95%CI: 0.91, 0.97) for total CHDs respectively. Air pollutants mediated 52.1% of the association. We also identified a protective threshold at 0.21 NDVI on CHD. Similar protective effects from greenness were found in most CHDs subtypes. The protective associations were stronger for fall, urban or permanent residents, higher household income maternal age ≤35 years of age, and high maternal education (ORs: ranged from 0.85 to 0.96). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a beneficial effect of maternal residential greenness on CHDs. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings, which will help to refine preventive health and urban design strategies.
Authors: Zhicheng Du; Boyi Yang; Bin Jalaludin; Luke Knibbs; Shicheng Yu; Guanghui Dong; Yuantao Hao Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-01-06 Impact factor: 3.295