Profiling the variability and inequity in the residential environment in Cyprus according to citizens' ratings: a cross-sectional internet-based "Place Standard" survey.

BACKGROUND: The "Place Standard Tool" (PST) offers a practical framework for structuring conversations about physical and social dimensions of Place which impact on health and well-being. The aim of this study was to survey citizens' perceptions of Place across diverse settings in Cyprus. While the PST has been extensively used in the context of community engagement, its properties as a measurement tool haven't been explored. METHODS: An open call was addressed to citizens to rate their neighbourhood environment across the 14 PST items (1: large to 7: little room for improvement). Exploratory factor, cluster and regression analyses were used to explore the dimensionality of the scale, depict neighbourhood profiles and explore differences in ratings according to socio-demographic characteristics, area-level census indicators and residents' assessment of neighbourhood social position (10-step ladder). RESULTS: With the exception of safety (M = 4.4, SD = 1.7), 492 participants (mean age 42, 50% residents for > 10 years) from 254 postcodes (21.7% islandwide) did not rate other features favourably, with lowest scores for "influence and sense of control" and "public transport". A stepwise pattern of dissatisfaction was observed along the social position continuum both for features rated less as well as more favourably (e.g. social contact). For instance, among participants who placed their neighbourhood at the three top steps of the ladder, 48.8% gave a low rating for "influence and sense of control", while the equivalent figure was 81.0% at the bottom three steps (OR = 4.5, 95% CI 2.3, 8.6). A clear dimensionality of Built (6 items, Cronbach's α = 0.798), Physical (3 items, α = 0.765), Social (2 items, α = 0.749) and Service (3 items, α = 0.58) environment was identified. A social gradient was evident according to census measures of socio-economic disadvantage (e.g. pre-1980 housing, single-parent households) with larger differences in terms of the built than the social environment. CONCLUSIONS: The study profiled the variability and documented the inequity in the health-related neighbourhood environment across Cypriot communities. The readily interpretable dimensionality of the scale supports its construct validity, allowing calculation of composite scores. The PST can be used as measurement tool in research as well as public health practice to advocate for neighbourhood initiatives which support and enhance citizens' participation.

Association of non-invasive measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness with mortality and major cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction, in subclinical stages, aiming to stratify patients and tailor interventions remains an unmet need in chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this meta-analysis, we summarize the association of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality and CV events in non-dialysis CKD and patients on haemodialysis. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. RESULTS: Out of 27 984 records, a total of 45 studies were eligible for quantitative synthesis; 11 for cIMT, 18 for CACS and 16 for PWV involving 2235, 4904 and 5717 patients, respectively. Meta-analysis was possible from pooled data of five cIMT studies (708 subjects), eight CACS studies (862 subjects) and nine PWV studies (1508 subjects). In dialysis patients, cIMT was associated with all-cause mortality [relative risk (RR) per unit increase: 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.17, I 2: 68%] and CV mortality (RR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.14-1.47, I 2: 0%). High versus low CACS was associated with all-cause mortality (RR: 2.51, 95% CI 1.66-3.79, I 2: 5.7%) and CV events (RR: 3.77 95% CI 2.16-6.58, I 2: 20.2%). High versus low PWV was associated with all-cause (RR: 5.34, 95% CI 3.01-9.47, I 2: 0%) and CV mortality (RR: 8.55, 95% CI 4.37-16.73, I 2: 0%). The combined estimated for all-cause mortality per 1 m/s increment unit in PWV was 1.25 (95% CI 1.17-1.34, I 2: 0%) and for CV mortality was 1.24 (95% CI 1.16-1.34, I 2: 15.5%). In non-dialysis patients, CACS was associated with CV events (RR: 4.02, 95% CI 1.57-10.29, I 2: 63.4%). High versus low PWV was associated with all-cause mortality (RR: 2.52, 95% CI 1.40-4.55, I 2: 62.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive measures of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffening are associated with all-cause and CV mortality as well as CV events among patients with all stages of CKD. These markers could be considered for the evaluation of CV morbidity and mortality risks. Moreover, the results of this meta-analysis support the study of interventions, with effect on these markers of vascular disease, on long-term CVD outcomes.