Author:
del Río Sergio Gómez,Plans-Beriso Elena,Ramis Rebeca,Ortolá Rosario,Pastor Roberto,Sotos-Prieto Mercedes,Castelló Adela,Requena Rocío Olmedo,Moleón José Juan Jiménez,Félix Borja María Fernández,Muriel Alfonso,Miret Marta,Mateos Jose Luis Ayuso,Choi Yoon-Hyeong,Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando,Fernández-Navarro Pablo,García-Esquinas Esther
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Traffic exposure has been associated with biomarkers of increased biological ageing, age-related chronic morbidities, and increased respiratory, cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality. Whether it is associated with functional impairments and unhealthy ageing trajectories is unknown.
Methods
Nationally representative population-based cohort with 3,126 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥60 years who contributed 8,291 biannual visits over a 10 year period. Unhealthy ageing was estimated with a deficit accumulation index (DAI) based on the number and severity of 52 health deficits, including 22 objectively-measured impairments in physical and cognitive functioning. Differences in DAI at each follow-up across quintiles of residential traffic density (RTD) at 50 and 100 meters, and closest distance to a petrol station, were estimated using flexible marginal structural models with inverse probability of censoring weights. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and time-varying lifestyle factors, social deprivation index at the census tract and residential exposure to natural spaces.
Results
At baseline, the mean (SD) age and DAI score of the participants were 69.0 (6.6) years and 17.02 (11.0) %, and 54.0% were women. The median (IQR) RTD at 50 and 100 meters were 77 (31-467) and 509 (182-1802) vehicles/day, and the mean (SD) distance to the nearest petrol station of 962 (1317) meters. The average increase in DAI (95%CI) for participants in quintiles Q2-Q5 (vs Q1) of RTD at 50 meters was of 1.51 (0.50, 2.53), 0.98 (-0.05, 2.01), 2.20 (1.18, 3.21) and 1.98 (0.90, 3.05), respectively. Consistent findings were observed at 100 meters. By domains, most of the deficits accumulated with increased RTD were of a functional nature, although RTD at 50 meters was also associated with worse self-reported health, increased vitality problems and higher incidence of chronic morbidities. Living closer to a petrol station was associated with a higher incidence of functional impairments and chronic morbidities.
Conclusions
Exposure to nearby residential traffic is associated with accelerated trajectories of unhealthy ageing. Diminishing traffic pollution should become a priority intervention for adding healthy years to life in the old age.
Funder
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Pública y Epidemiología, CIBERESP
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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