Individual physical activity, neighbourhood active living environment and mental illness hospitalisation among adults with cardiometabolic disease: a Canadian population-based cohort analysis

Abstract

Objectives: This population-based observational study explores the associations between individual-level and neighbourhood-level indices of active living with inpatient mental healthcare use among adults with an underlying chronic cardiometabolic condition.

Design and setting: Data from the 2013-2014 Canadian Community Health Survey were linked longitudinally to hospital records from the 2013/2014‒2017/2018 Discharge Abstract Database and to a geocoded measure of active living environments (ALE). Relationships between individuals' leisure-time physical activity and neighbourhood ALE with risk of hospital admission for mental health disorders were assessed using multivariable Cox regressions.

Participants: A national cohort was identified from the survey data of 24 960 respondents aged 35 years and above reporting having been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and/or heart disease.

Outcome measure: Potentially avoidable hospitalisation for a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder over a 5-year period.

Results: More than half (52%) of adults aged 35 years and above with a cardiometabolic disease were physically inactive in their daily lives, and one-third (34%) resided in the least activity-friendly neighbourhoods. The rate of being hospitalised at least once for a comorbid mental disorder averaged 8.1 (95% CI: 7.0 to 9.3) per 1000 person-years of exposure. Individuals who were at least moderately active were half as likely to be hospitalised for a comorbid mental health problem compared with those who were inactive (HR: 0.50 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.65)). No statistically discernible associations between neighbourhood ALE and hospitalisation risks were found after controlling for individuals' behaviours and characteristics, including in separate models stratified by age group and by sex.

Conclusions: The evidence base to support prioritisation of interventions focusing on the built environment favouring mental health-promoting physical activity among higher-risk adults at the population level, independently of individual-level behaviours and characteristics, remains limited.

Keywords: epidemiology; mental health; social medicine.