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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 40805919 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13151886

Differential Effects of Green Space Typologies on Congenital Anomalies: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2008-2013).

Healthcare (Basel) 13(15)

Authors: Ji-Eun Lee, Kyung-Shin Lee, Youn-Hee Lim, Soontae Kim, Nami Lee, Yun-Chul Hong

Affiliations

  • Department of Human Systems Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
  • Center for Public Healthcare Policy, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
  • Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.
  • Department of Human Systems Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea. Department of Public Health, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
  • Department of Human Systems Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Urban green space has been increasingly recognized as a determinant of maternal and child health. This study investigated the association between prenatal exposure to different types of green space and the risk of congenital anomalies in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service (N = 142,422). Green space exposure was measured at the area level and categorized into grassland and forest; statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations and generalized additive models to analyze the associations. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: GEE analysis showed that a 10% increase in the proportion of grassland in a residential district was associated with a reduced risk of nervous system (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.94) and genitourinary system anomalies (aOR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71-0.97). The subgroup analysis results showed significance only for male infants, but the difference between the sexes was not significant. In the quartile-based analysis, we found a slightly significant p-value for trend for the effect of forests on digestive system anomalies, but the trend was toward increasing risk. In a sensitivity analysis with different exposure classifications, the overall and nervous system anomalies in built green space showed that the risk decreased as green space increased compared to that in the lowest quartile. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of spatial environmental factors during pregnancy and suggest that different types of green spaces differentially impact the offspring's early health outcomes. This study suggests the need for built environment planning as part of preventive maternal and child health strategies.

MeSH

Built Environment, Insurance, Insurance, Health, Child Health, Environment Design, Grassland, Nervous System, Environment, Forests, Child