Preventing cardiovascular disease within the built and living environment: An Expert Opinion

Vassiliou, Vassilios ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4005-7752, Chrysohoou, Christina, Timmermans, Erik, Akinci, Buket, Biondi-Zoccai, Giuseppe, Bahls, Martin, Daha, Ioana Cristina, Dalakoti, Mayank, Gnatiuc, Louisa, Kavousi, Maryam, Peters, Sanne, Marques-Vidal, Pedro, Tse, Gary, Lochen, Maja-Lisa and Panagiotakos, Demosthenes (2026) Preventing cardiovascular disease within the built and living environment: An Expert Opinion. Oxford University Press.

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Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) health is influenced not only by biological factors but also by the environments in which people live. The environment comprises interconnected built, living, and social domains that shape health behaviours, psychosocial well-being, environmental exposures, and access to resources. Within this framework, the built environment, the human-made settings that structure daily life, plays a key role in influencing physical activity, dietary behaviours, social interactions, safety, and overall well-being. Neighbourhoods are embedded within historical, legal, political, cultural, and economic contexts that shape the social determinants of health and contribute to CV health. Growing evidence indicates that characteristics of the living environment substantially influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related disorders through multiple pathways. These include access to healthcare, air and noise pollution, availability of healthy foods and green spaces, physical activity, social cohesion, and chronic psychosocial stress. Potential mechanisms include inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroendocrine dysregulation, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, and persistent stress responses that promote cardiometabolic dysfunction and vascular disease. This expert opinion examines challenges and opportunities related to nutrition, physical activity, environmental quality, community engagement, and occupational as well as social dimensions of the living environment from a public health perspective. This document highlights the importance of designing healthier communities that support CV health and reduce disease burden. Furthermore, neighbourhoods may serve as measurable units for monitoring CVD and broader health outcomes by integrating environmental characteristics with CV metrics, electronic health records, geospatial data, and neighbourhood-level social risk indicators. Addressing environmental determinants across multiple scales supports targeted public health strategies in Europe and globally.

Item Type: Other
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being,das not required, no data associated with output ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2026 15:16
Last Modified: 13 Nov 2026 15:16
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/105115
DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwag387

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