Vegetation diversity protects against childhood asthma: results from a large New Zealand birth cohort

Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Gatziolis, Demetrios; Longley, Ian; Douwes, Jeroen

doi:10.1038/s41477-018-0151-8

Cited by 107 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…A decreased risk of asthma was also reported in association with an increase in NDVI value at individual level [30]. Moreover, children living in more vegetated areas in New Zeeland showed a lower risk of having asthma [39]. Other authors reported no association between greenness and asthma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Greenness Availability and Respiratory Health in a Population of Urbanised Children in North-Western Italy

Squillacioti

Bellisario

Levra

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Paediatric Asthma contributes in paediatric global burden of diseases, as the most common chronic disease in children. Children are exposed to many environmental risk-factors, able to determine or worsen respiratory diseases, and contributing to asthma and asthma-like symptoms increases, especially in metropolitan areas. In urban settings, surrounding vegetation (greenness) may provide important benefits to health, including the promotion of physical activity and the mitigation of air and noise pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between greenness and respiratory health. A total of 187 children (10–13 yrs old) were recruited in Turin, the north-western part of Italy. The prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms was calculated from self-reported data collected by SIDRIA questionnaire. Spirometry test was performed to obtain respiratory flow measurements. Greenness was measured at individual level through the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) estimations from remote-sensing images. Higher exposure (3rd tertile vs. 1st tertile) to NDVI was associated to significantly lower ORs for asthma [0.13 CI 95% 0.02–0.7, p = 0.019], bronchitis [0.14 CI 95% 0.05–0.45, p = 0.001], and current wheezing [0.25 CI 95% 0.09–0.70, p = 0.008]. A significative positive association was found between greenness and FEF25–75, since children exposed to the 2nd tertile of NDVI reported a significantly decreased FEF25–75 compared to those in the 3rd tertile [B: −2.40; C.I.95%: −0.48–0.01; p = 0.049]. This cross-sectional study provided additional data on still inconsistent literature referring to respiratory health in children and green spaces, attesting a positive effect of greenness in a specific area of Italy. Further research is still needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Greenness Availability and Respiratory Health in a Population of Urbanised Children in North-Western Italy

Squillacioti

Bellisario

Levra

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…Similarly, exposure to the natural environment is associated with increased social connectivity,37 and social isolation can increase individual reactivity to opioids38 as well as being a risk factor for premature mortality 39. More recently, research suggests that exposure to the natural environment may increase the microbial diversity of the human microbiome,40 and protect against adverse health outcomes41 through improved immune function. In addition, improved immune function is associated with improved surgical recovery42 and better orthopaedic outcomes in elderly patients 43…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between exposure to the natural environment and recovery from hip or knee arthroplasty: a New Zealand retrospective cohort study

2019

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ObjectivesDetermine whether patients who live in greener and more walkable neighbourhoods live longer, and take fewer opioids, following hip or knee arthroplasty.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingResidential environment following surgery at one of 54 New Zealand hospitals.ParticipantsAll people who received a total hip or knee arthroplasty at a publicly-funded hospital in New Zealand in 2006 and 2007 (7449 hip arthroplasties and 6558 knee arthroplasties).Primary and secondary outcome measureTime to all-cause mortality and number of postsurgical opioid prescriptions.ResultsPatients who lived in greener neighbourhoods, as measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, lived longer following hip or knee arthroplasty (standardised OR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99). However, when we estimated separate hip-arthroplasty-only and knee-arthroplasty-only models, greenness was only significantly associated with greater longevity following hip arthroplasty. Similarly, patients who lived in greener neighbourhoods took fewer opioids in the 12 months following hip or knee arthroplasty (standardised OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99), but in separate hip-arthroplasty-only and knee-arthroplasty-only models, greenness was only significantly associated with lower opioid use following hip arthroplasty. Walkability was not significantly associated with postsurgical opioid use or postsurgical longevity. All ORs were adjusted for sex, ethnicity, age, presurgical chronic health conditions, presurgical opioid use, social deprivation and length of hospital stay.ConclusionsConsistent with the literature on enhanced-recovery programme, people who lived in greener neighbourhoods took fewer opioids, and lived longer, following hip arthroplasty. Improving access to the natural environment may therefore be an effective component of postsurgical recovery programme.

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“…Based on the meta-analysis of Barton and Pretty [ 32 ], every green environment improved self-esteem and mood, but spending time near a waterside (e.g., beach or river) or participating in water-based activities generated greater effects. An increased diversity of ecosystems has also been associated with a decreased risk of asthma in children [ 61 ] and an increased number of rare yard plants with a decreased risk of allergic sensitization in teenagers [ 62 ].…”

Section: Characteristics Of Second Homes and Potential Health Benementioning

confidence: 99%

How do Rural Second Homes Affect Human Health and Well-being? Review of Potential Impacts

Pitkänen

Lehtimäki

Puhakka

2020

IJERPH

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Contact with nature is associated with numerous psychological, physiological and social health and well-being benefits. Outdoor recreation, such as rural second home tourism, provides extensive exposure to the natural environment, but research around health impacts of this exposure is scattered. We review current research on health and well-being impacts of nature and discuss how the characteristics of rural second home environments and their use and users can affect these potential impacts in Finland. We discover four key issues affecting the impacts. First, health and well-being impacts depend on the users; urban people can especially benefit from rural second homes, while child development and the performance of elderly people can also be supported by contact with nature at second homes. Second, the regularity, length and season of second home visits influence the potential to receive benefits as they have an impact on the intensity of nature exposure. Third, the type and quality of second home environment affect contact with nature, such as exposure to health-supporting environmental microbes. Fourth, practices, motives and meanings modify activities and attachment and crucially affect both physical and mental well-being. We conclude that rural second homes have extensive potential to provide nature-related health and well-being benefits and further research is needed.

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Vegetation diversity protects against childhood asthma: results from a large New Zealand birth cohort

Cited by 107 publications

References 46 publications

Greenness Availability and Respiratory Health in a Population of Urbanised Children in North-Western Italy

Greenness Availability and Respiratory Health in a Population of Urbanised Children in North-Western Italy

Relationship between exposure to the natural environment and recovery from hip or knee arthroplasty: a New Zealand retrospective cohort study

How do Rural Second Homes Affect Human Health and Well-being? Review of Potential Impacts

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