AUTHOR=Gu Kangkang , Jing Yao , Tang Jingjing , Jia Xianjie , Zhang Xinmu , Wang Beichen 

TITLE=Hypertension risk pathways in urban built environment: the case of Yuhui District, Bengbu City, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443416

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443416

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=The rapid development of urbanization has brought about changes in residents' living environment and behavior, which makes residents face health challenges such as hypertension. The improvement of the built-up environment in the community contributes to the construction of a healthy city, promotes the active life of residents, and prevents and relieves hypertension. However, there is little research on the relationship between the built environment of community and hypertension. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the relationship among community built environment, health behavior and hypertension grade of residents in Yuhui District of Bengbu City. This study is based on data from the 2022 Health Survey of Residents in 21 communities. To investigate the impact of the community built environment on residents' hypertension and the underlying mechanisms, regression and structural equation modelling were employed. The results show that the built environment of urban communities has a significant impact on residents' hypertension. The presence of high densities of supermarkets, convenience stores, parks and plazas, in conjunction with low densities of clinics and hospitals, has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of high blood pressure among residents. Nevertheless, the adoption of healthy behaviours, including regular walking, physical activity and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, can play an important role in reducing the risk of hypertension. The findings of this study indicate that enhancements to the built environment in urban neighborhoods can contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of hypertension among residents. Furthermore, the implementation of efficacious health interventions in urban settings can facilitate the alteration of residents' health behaviours and enhance their overall health status.