Independent and Cumulative Effects of Neighborhood Characteristics, Airborne Particulate Matter, Indicators of Psychosocial Stress, and Nutritional Intakes on Variations in Cardiovascular Risk in Detroit: Preliminary Findings from the Healthy Environments Partnership

Amy Schulz, PhD, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 5134 SPH II, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-647-0221, ajschulz@umich.edu, Srimathi Kannan, PhD, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health Human Nutrition Program, 1420 Washington Heights, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, J. Timothy Dvonch, PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory St., 1608A SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, Alison Benjamin, BA, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, P.O. Box 09400, Detroit, MI 48209, and Paul Max, BS, Detroit Department of Health, 1151 Taylor Bldg #4, Detroit, MI 48202.

The Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP) is an NIEHS-funded community based participatory research partnership affiliated with the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center. HEP seeks to extend previous research demonstrating that air quality (Pope et al 2004), dietary factors (Kannan et al 1999), neighborhood conditions (Diez-Roux et al 2001) and psychosocial indicators (Esch et al 2002) contribute to variations in cardiovascular disease. We examine independent and cumulative effects of social and physical environmental exposures on measured risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Detroit. Data collection occurred in three Detroit communities with distinct demographic characteristics, and included: community survey including self-reported psychosocial and behavioral indicators (n=922); neighborhood observational checklist completed in 550 blocks; monitoring of fine and coarse fraction particulate matter over a three year period; blood and cortisol samples collected from a subset of survey respondents (n=367). We present results from analyses testing independent and cumulative effects of observed neighborhood characteristics (e.g., indicators of physical disorder), mean levels and variations in fine and coarse fraction particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5), self reported psychosocial stressors (e.g., financial stress, safety stress), self reported dietary factors (e.g., macro and micro nutrients) and measured biological indicators of cardiovascular risk (e.g., blood pressure, BMI). Our findings extend earlier research by examining relationships between, and cumulative effects of, aspects of both social and physical environments as these contribute to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular disease risk. We discuss implications of our findings for public health interventions to reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular disease.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.