Greener surroundings were linked to smaller blood-pressure increases over time
Longitudinal studies connected some neighborhood features with slower changes in cardiometabolic markers, while results differed by feature and measured outcome.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review linked greater access to green or open space with smaller increases in blood pressure over time. Walkability and food environments also showed associations with selected markers, but the pattern was uneven. These observational findings concern biological risk indicators; they do not establish that changing a neighborhood prevents cardiovascular disease.
Follow-up lengths and participant characteristics are not provided in the abstract. Associations cannot establish causation, and the pooled z-scores describe strength of evidence rather than the size of a blood-pressure difference.
What researchers found
Systolic blood pressure over time
Greater green/open-space availability versus less availability in longitudinal studies; follow-up lengths and a blood-pressure effect size are not reported in the abstract.
Biological markers were tracked
The researchers tracked blood pressure, blood fats and blood-sugar markers as continuous measures. Their pooled analysis weighted evidence by study quality and sample size, rather than reporting a shared change in blood-pressure units.
Results depended on the feature
Walkability was associated with smaller rises in systolic blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin, but results for other markers were inconsistent. Each reported food-environment association came from a single study.
The original publication
Built environment and the evolution of cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.
Feyissa TR, Beks H, Tolossa T et al.
BMC Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41250188
- Record checked
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