Exploring socio-environmental effects on community health in Edmonton, Canada to understand older adult and immigrant risk in a changing climate
Abstract
We investigated health risks associated with climate and air pollution hazards and community
covariates to generate insights into the resilience of older adults and immigrants at the community level in a northern urban center in the Canadian prairies (i.e. Edmonton, AB). Communities with higher proportions of older adults were associated with increased cardiovascular, injury, mental, and respiratory health event rates. Notably, heat effects on injury rates impacted communities with
higher percentages of older adults (Prevalence Rate Ratio (PRR) [95%CI] 1.110 [1.011, 1.219] at 25% ≥65 years). Ozone effects on cardiovascular event rates exhibited similar trends. Areas with higher percentages of immigrants generally had lower rates of health events. However, increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.205 [1.004, 1.447] at 20%). Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.127 [1.058, 1.200]; 1.130 [1.050, 1.216] at 20%). Similar effects were observed
for mental health event rates and total immigrants. Greater neighborhood material and social deprivation were significant risk factors for increased health event rates across outcomes. Future work should focus on disproportionately affected vulnerable populations to address community-level resilience.
Notes
Open access: No
Community organizations: n/a
Future research / gaps identified:
Investigate the health impacts of climate and air pollution hazards between subgroups of immigrants. Local socioecological explorations will be critical in informing meaningful approaches to reduce the health impacts of climate change and air pollution.
Integration timeline: not defined
Key findings:
1) Lower proportions of total immigrants, lower proportions of economic immigrants and higher proportions of refugees were identified as increased sensitivity to higher rates of negative health events.
2) Increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees.
3) Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees.
Key populations: older adults and immigrants who now live in Edmonton, AB
Key recommendations:
Utilize these findings to inform future vulnerability and health risk assessments and the development of locally relevant health surveillance systems for monitoring and protecting the health of groups of people living in Edmonton.
Location: Edmonton, AB