Residing in areas with high residential greenspace is associated with increased COPD risk and decreased lung function of adults in eastern China

Abstract

Background

Evidence for a relation between residential greenspace and respiratory health is scarce and controversial.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between residential greenspace and its interaction with particulate matter (PM_2.5) and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung function.

Methods

A total of 3,759 adults were recruited from Wenzhou in this study. Lung function measurements included forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1); forced vital capacity (FVC); FEV1/FVC ratio; peak expiratory flow (PEF); forced expiratory flow (FEF) at 25 %, 50 %, and 75 %; and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to characterize the greenspace.

Results

The mean (SD) age of study participants was 62.8(10.2) years, with 51.8 % female. NDVI was positively associated with risk of COPD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.04–1.54) and inversely with lung function: the βs (95 % CIs) for FEV1; FVC; FEV1/FVC ratio; PEF; FEF25 %, 50 %, and 75 %; and MMEF were -0.09 (-0.12, -0.06); -0.07 (-0.10, -0.04); -1.39 (-2.06, -0.72); -0.66 ( -0.74, -0.57); -0.52 (-0.61, -0.43), -0.22 (-0.28, -0.15), and -0.05 (-0.09, -0.01); and -0.17 (-0.22, -0.12), respectively. In high PM_2.5 areas, NDVI was positively associated with COPD risk (OR: 5.40, 95 % CI: 3.45–8.58) and inversely with FEV1/FVC ratio (β:8.29, 95 % CI:9.82, -6.76) and FVC (β:0.13, 95 %CI:0.21, 0.06), and in low PM_2.5 areas, was positively associated with risk of COPD (OR: 1.75, 95 % CI: 1.12–2.80) and inversely with FEV1/FVC ratio (β:3.45, 95 % CI:4.80, 2.11).

Conclusions

High residential greenspace may be associated with increased risk of COPD and decreased lung function in adults, particularly in areas with high PM_2.5.