Impacts of changes in environmental exposures and health behaviours due to the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular and mental health : A comparison of Barcelona, Vienna, and Stockholm
Journal article
Koch, Sarah, Khomenko, Sasha, Cirach, Marta, Ubalde-Lopez, Mònica, Baclet, Sacha, Daher, Carolyn, Hidalgo, Laura, Lõhmus, Mare, Rizzuto, Debora, Rumpler, Romain, Susilo, Yusak, Venkataraman, Siddharth, Wegener, Sandra, Wellenius, Gregory A., Woodcock, James and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark. (2022). Impacts of changes in environmental exposures and health behaviours due to the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular and mental health : A comparison of Barcelona, Vienna, and Stockholm. Environmental Pollution. 304, p. Article 119124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119124
Authors | Koch, Sarah, Khomenko, Sasha, Cirach, Marta, Ubalde-Lopez, Mònica, Baclet, Sacha, Daher, Carolyn, Hidalgo, Laura, Lõhmus, Mare, Rizzuto, Debora, Rumpler, Romain, Susilo, Yusak, Venkataraman, Siddharth, Wegener, Sandra, Wellenius, Gregory A., Woodcock, James and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark |
---|---|
Abstract | Responses to COVID-19 altered environmental exposures and health behaviours associated with non-communicable diseases. We aimed to (1) quantify changes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), noise, physical activity, and greenspace visits associated with COVID-19 policies in the spring of 2020 in Barcelona (Spain), Vienna (Austria), and Stockholm (Sweden), and (2) estimated the number of additional and prevented diagnoses of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, depression, and anxiety based on these changes. We calculated differences in NO2, noise, physical activity, and greenspace visits between pre-pandemic (baseline) and pandemic (counterfactual) levels. With two counterfactual scenarios, we distinguished between Acute Period (March 15th – April 26th, 2020) and Deconfinement Period (May 2nd – June 30th, 2020) assuming counterfactual scenarios were extended for 12 months. Relative risks for each exposure difference were estimated with exposure-risk functions. In the Acute Period, reductions in NO2 (range of change from −16.9 μg/m3 to −1.1 μg/m3), noise (from −5 dB(A) to −2 dB(A)), physical activity (from −659 MET*min/wk to −183 MET*min/wk) and greenspace visits (from −20.2 h/m to 1.1 h/m) were largest in Barcelona and smallest in Stockholm. In the Deconfinement Period, NO2 (from −13.9 μg/m3 to −3.1 μg/m3), noise (from −3 dB(A) to −1 dB(A)), and physical activity levels (from −524 MET*min/wk to −83 MET*min/wk) remained below pre-pandemic levels in all cities. Greatest impacts were caused by physical activity reductions. If physical activity levels in Barcelona remained at Acute Period levels, increases in annual diagnoses for MI (mean: 572 (95% CI: 224, 943)), stroke (585 (6, 1156)), depression (7903 (5202, 10,936)), and anxiety (16,677 (926, 27,002)) would be anticipated. To decrease cardiovascular and mental health impacts, reductions in NO2 and noise from the first COVID-19 surge should be sustained, but without reducing physical activity. Focusing on cities’ connectivity that promotes active transportation and reduces motor vehicle use assists in achieving this goal. |
Keywords | air pollution; physical activity; greenspace; noise; cardiovascular disease; mental disorders |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Environmental Pollution |
Journal citation | 304, p. Article 119124 |
Publisher | Elsevier Ltd |
ISSN | 0269-7491 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119124 |
PubMed ID | 35367103 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85129668848 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8967404 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 1-11 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 30 Mar 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 08 Mar 2022 |
Deposited | 03 Feb 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8yqv4/impacts-of-changes-in-environmental-exposures-and-health-behaviours-due-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-cardiovascular-and-mental-health-a-comparison-of-barcelona-vienna-and-stockholm
Download files
Publisher's version
OA_Koch_2022_Impacts_of_changes_in_environmental_exposures.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
119
total views42
total downloads2
views this month1
downloads this month