ABSTRACT
Background: The world is experiencing a phenomenal rise in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. These are higher in developed than developing countries as well as urban more than rural areas. The place of the urban environment in this picture is seen more as an association than a cause. With the epidemiological transition coming on, the need to draw attention to the role of a “toxic” environment becomes necessary if preventive measures are to be put in place.
Objective: This review article sought to evaluate the role of the urban environment in the development of cardiovascular disease. This would therefore highlight the areas where preventive measures can be instituted to stem the tide of rising cardiovascular disease mobility and mortality
Method: A systematic review of literature on environmental and cardiovascular diseases from indexed and on-line journals using Pubmed, Google and Google scholar. Relevant local materials on housing and urban environment were also consulted.
Result: The various ways by which the urban environment would become toxic and precipitate incident cardiovascular disease or worsen pre-existing ones are highlighted.
Conclusion: The need to ensure orderly development of urban areas, discourage rural to urban migration by deliberate social, political and economic engineering and improve urban infrastructure become compelling. These would impact positively on the phenomenon.
Key words: Urban, Environment, Risk factor, Cardiovascular disease Article Language: Turkish English
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