Air Pollution, Built Environment, and Early Cardiovascular Disease

As the world's population becomes increasingly urbanized, there is growing concern about the impact of urban environments on cardiovascular health. Urban residents are exposed to a variety of adverse environmental exposures throughout their lives, including air pollution, built environment, and lack of green space, which may contribute to the development of early cardiovascular disease and related risk factors. While epidemiological studies have examined the role of a few environmental factors with early cardiovascular disease, the relationship with the broader environment remains poorly defined. In this article, we provide a brief overview of studies that have examined the impact of the environment including the built physical environment, discuss current challenges in the field, and suggest potential directions for future research. Additionally, we highlight the clinical implications of these findings and propose multilevel interventions to promote cardiovascular health among children and young adults.

Automated summary

As the world becomes more urbanized, there is growing concern about how urban environments impact cardiovascular health. Urban residents are exposed to various adverse environmental factors such as air pollution, built environment, and lack of green space, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors. This article provides an overview of studies examining the impact of the environment, discusses current challenges in the field, and suggests potential directions for future research. The clinical implications of these findings are highlighted, alongside proposed interventions to promote cardiovascular health among children and young adults.