Original Data
| Rev Diabet Stud,
2017,
14(4):381-389 |
DOI 10.1900/RDS.2017.14.381 |
Association of Socio-Environmental Determinants with Diabetes Prevalence in the Athens Metropolitan Area, Greece: A Spatial Analysis
Antigoni Faka1, Christos Chalkias1, Diego Montano2, Ekavi N. Georgousopoulou3,4, Anestis Tripitsidis1, Efi Koloverou3, Dimitris Tousoulis5, Christos Pitsavos5, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos3
1Department of Geography, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
2Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
3Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece
4Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
5First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece
Address correspondence to: Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, e-mail: dbpanag@hua.gr
Manuscript submitted January 15, 2018; resubmitted March 2, 2018; accepted March 3, 2018.
Keywords: diabetes, socio-environmental factor, socioeconomic, Geographic Information System
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial variation of diabetes in relation to the geographical variability of socio-environmental characteristics in the urban districts of Athens. METHODS: A sample of 2,445 individuals from the greater area of Athens was randomly enrolled in the ATTICA study between 2001 and 2002. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Geographical and statistical analyses were applied to examine the relationship between diabetes prevalence and factors related to education, economic status, population density, immigrant status, and availability of urban green areas. Diabetes prevalence and socio-environmental factor mapping was based on the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Variograms and spatial quasi-Poisson regression analysis evaluated the associations of diabetes with the socio-environmental variables at the municipal level. RESULTS: According to the geographical analysis and mapping, the highest proportions of people with diabetes were found in the West sector and in one district of the East and South sector each. Regression analysis revealed that the proportion of inhabitants with higher education is negatively correlated with diabetes prevalence in the regional areas of Athens. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that socio-environmental status in residential areas, especially educational and economic levels, is correlated with diabetes prevalence at the aggregate level. These correlations may reflect socio-economic segregation patterns at the district level, and different prevalence rates of diabetes among individuals with higher income and educational levels.
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