摘要：Introduction: Despite the accumulating Canadian evidence regarding the relations
between urban form and health behaviours, less is known about the associations between
urban form and health conditions. Our study aim was to undertake a scoping review to
synthesize evidence from quantitative studies that have investigated the relationship
between built environment and chronic health conditions, self-reported health and quality
of life, and injuries in the Canadian adult population.
Methods: From January to March 2017, we searched 13 databases to identify peer-reviewed
quantitative studies from all years that estimated associations between the objectivelymeasured
built environment and health conditions in Canadian adults. Studies undertaken
within urban settings only were included. Relevant studies were catalogued and
synthesized in relation to their reported study and sample design, and health outcome
and built environment features.
Results: Fifty-five articles met the inclusion criteria, 52 of which were published after
2008. Most single province studies were undertaken in Ontario (n = 22), Quebec (n = 12),
and Alberta (n = 7). Associations between the built environment features and 11 broad
health outcomes emerged from the review, including injury (n = 19), weight status
(n = 19), cardiovascular disease (n = 5), depression/anxiety (n = 5), diabetes (n = 5),
mortality (n = 4), self-rated health (n = 2), chronic conditions (n = 2), metabolic conditions
(n = 2), quality of life (n = 1), and cancer (n = 1). Consistent evidence for associations
between aggregate built environment indicators (e.g., walkability) and diabetes
and weight and between connectivity and route features (e.g., transportation route, trails,
pathways, sidewalks, street pattern, intersections, route characteristics) and injury were
found. Evidence for greenspace, parks and recreation features impacting multiple health
outcomes was also found.
Conclusion: Within the Canadian context, the built environment is associated with a
range of chronic health conditions and injury in adults, but the evidence to date has limitations.
More research on the built environment and health incorporating rigorous study
designs are needed to provide stronger causal evidence to inform policy and practice.
关键词：disease;neighbourhood;built environment;injury;health;mental health
