Document details

Association between area-level walkability and glycated haemoglobin: a Portuguese population-based study

Author(s): Sá, Regina ; Roquette, Rita ; Rebecchi, Andrea ; Matias, Judite ; Rocha, Jorge ; Buffoli, Maddalena ; Capolongo, Stefano ; Ribeiro, Ana Isabel ; Nunes, Baltazar ; Dias, Carlos ; Sousa Uva, Mafalda

Date: 2024

Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/64586

Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa

Subject(s): Built environment; Urban planning; Walkability; Diabetes; Glycated haemoglobin; Portugal


Description

Diabetes poses a substantial disease burden, prompting preventive interventions. Physical inactivity, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, can potentially be mitigated by enhancing area-level walkability. Despite this, limited population-based studies have investigated the link between walkability and objective diabetes measures. Our study aims to estimate the association between area-level walkability and individual glycated haemoglobin levels in the Portuguese adult population without the diagnosis of diabetes. Data from the 2011 census and an updated street map were obtained to construct a walkability index based on residential density, land-use mix, and street connectivity. Individual health data were sourced from The National Health Examination Survey (INSEF) 2015, a representative survey of the Portuguese adult population. Gamma regression was employed for estimation of the main associations, revealing that residing in moderately walkable areas signifcantly reduced average glycated haemoglobin levels (Exp(β)=0.906; 95% CI: 0.821, 0.999) compared to the least walkable areas. The association was less pronounced and not statistically signifcant for the third tertile of walkability (Exp(β)=0.919; 95% CI: 0.822, 1.028). Our fndings highlight a nonlinear protective association between walkability and glycated haemoglobin, emphasizing the potential policy implications for urban planning, diabetes prevention, and health promotion.

Document Type Journal article
Language English
Contributor(s) Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
CC Licence
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