Health benefits of physical activity related to an urban riverside regeneration

Vert Roca, Cristina, 1991-; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.; Gascon Merlos, Mireia, 1984-; Grellier, James; Fleming, Lora E.; White, Mathew P.; Rojas Rueda, David, 1979-

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030462

Health benefits of physical activity related to an urban riverside regeneration

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Vert C, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Gascon M, Grellier J, Fleming LE, White MP et al. Health benefits of physical activity related to an urban riverside regeneration. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(3):462. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16030462

Abstract

The promotion of physical activity through better urban design is one pathway by which health and well-being improvements can be achieved. This study aimed to quantify health and health-related economic impacts associated with physical activity in an urban riverside park regeneration project in Barcelona, Spain. We used data from Barcelona local authorities and meta-analysis assessing physical activity and health outcomes to develop and apply the "Blue Active Tool". We estimated park user health impacts in terms of all-cause mortality, morbidity (ischemic heart disease; ischemic stroke; type 2 diabetes; cancers of the colon and breast; and dementia), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and health-related economic impacts. We estimated that 5753 adult users visited the riverside park daily and performed different types of physical activity (walking for leisure or to/from work, cycling, and running). Related to the physical activity conducted on the riverside park, we estimated an annual reduction of 7.3 deaths (95% CI: 5.4; 10.2), and 6.2 cases of diseases (95% CI: 2.0; 11.6). This corresponds to 11.9 DALYs (95% CI: 3.4; 20.5) and an annual health-economic impact of 23.4 million euros (95% CI: 17.2 million; 32.8 million). The urban regeneration intervention of this riverside park provides health and health-related economic benefits to the population using the infrastructure.