Safety from crime feeling linked with lower risks of heart attack and death

Feeling safe from crime is associated with a 9% lower risk of premature death and 6% lower likelihood of a heart attack, according to a study in more than 35,000 adults presented at ESC Congress 2023. The researchers used data from the PURE-China study to investigate the association between neighborhood characteristics, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and death. The study included 35,730 adults aged 35 to 70 years.

The eight subscales covered:

1) How long it takes to walk to shops, restaurants, banks, pharmacies, work, transport stops, and parks;

2) Perceived ease of walking to shops and transport stops;

3) The distance between intersections

4) Infrastructure for walking/cycling

5) Aesthetics

6) Safety from traffic

7) Safety from crime and

8) Community satisfaction.

The researchers analyzed the associations between each subscale and the total score and health outcomes after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationships.

During a median follow-up of 11.7 years, there were 2,034 (5.7%) all-cause deaths, of which 765 were attributed to CVD and 3,042 (8.5%) major CVD events. A higher neighborhood environment score was associated with a 6% lower risk of the primary outcome of major CVD events and all-cause mortality, a 12% lower likelihood of death during follow-up, and a 10% reduced risk of death due to CVD.

The subscale with the greatest association with health outcomes was safety from crime. A higher neighborhood safety score was associated with a 9% lower risk of death during follow-up, 10% lower risk of death from CVD, 3% reduced likelihood of major CVDs, 6% reduced risk of myocardial infarction, and 10% lower likelihood of heart failure.

Reference: Dr. Mengya Li et al, European Society of Cardiology