- People who felt safe were 10% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease
- The study found that people who felt safe were 9% less likely to die from any cause
People who feel safe from crime in their community are less likely to die from a heart attack, a new study suggests.
Researchers wanted to see if living in neighborhoods with certain characteristics could have an impact on mortality rates and the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Academics examined data from nearly 36,000 adults from China between the ages of 35 and 70.
People completed questionnaires about the environment in their neighborhood, including information about how safe they felt from crime; community satisfaction; the aesthetics of their neighborhoods, including trees, trash, and sidewalks; easy access to shopping and other factors.
Academics also looked at the medical records of people involved in the study.
(Stock Photo) People who feel safe from crime in their community are less likely to die from heart attacks, a new study suggests
(Stock Photo) People who reported living in areas where they felt safe from crime were 10% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease
After an average of almost twelve years, there were more than 2,000 deaths, including 765 deaths due to cardiovascular disease.
There were also 3,000 cases of ‘cardiovascular disease’, including cases of heart attacks and strokes.
They found that people who reported living in areas where they felt safe from crime were 9% less likely to die during the follow-up period.
And they were 10% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, according to an article presented at the ESC congress in Amsterdam.
A higher neighborhood environment score was associated with a 6% lower risk of heart attacks and strokes, they said.
“There is growing evidence that the neighborhood we live in affects our health,” said study author Dr. Mengya Li of the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing.
“This study highlights the importance of many aspects of our environment for heart health and longevity, including feeling safe, close to shopping, transportation and parks, cleanliness, and a sense that our neighborhood is a good place to live and raise children.’