Impacto de variáveis da forma urbana e da temperatura de superfície nas condições cardiorrespiratórias de moradores em áreas do município de João Pessoa

Abstract

Complex interactions between urban form and the urban thermal environment are one of the main factors that contribute to the health-related, social, economic, and environmental problems caused by urbanization. This thesis aims to study the relationship between surface temperature and form variables of the urban environment and the number of cardiorespiratory deaths among residents of 10 neighborhoods of João Pessoa between 2013 and 2019. Disordered urban occupation is associated with risky urban scenarios. The effect of this occupation on cardiorespiratory health is a complex problem that needs to be evaluated at multiple levels, but most research dealing with the built and thermal environment focuses on extreme situations or temperature variability. This study investigates the correlations between urbanization factors such as land use, building height, and the presence of green areas and cardiorespiratory mortality rates in the area. Landsat 8 satellite images were used to obtain surface temperature (Ts) of specific neighborhoods in the city. Official health records and city maps were obtained from the official health regulatory agencies in João Pessoa. The QGis and R platforms were used to develop death density maps, nearest neighbor analysis, Pearson correlation, and regression models between surface temperature and urban form data and deaths in João Pessoa from cardiorespiratory causes between 2013 and 2019. The study reveals a positive correlation between higher surface temperatures and increased rates of cardiorespiratory deaths. Nearest neighbor analysis shows that there is a cluster relationship between the location of deaths in the area. Additionally, it was found that aspects of urban form, particularly the presence of commercial areas and mixed-use areas, significantly affect mortality rates, especially among older populations. Green spaces did not show a statistically significant impact in mitigating these outcomes at various scales of analysis. These findings underscore the critical implications of urban design and land use in public health, particularly in the face of climate change. An integrated approach to urban planning that considers the health impacts of urban form and surface temperatures is necessary. Simply increasing green areas may not be enough; it is crucial to assess lot distribution and understand how different urban elements interact to affect residents' health, as changes like integrating commercial or mixed-use lots may positively affect residents' health and longevity. Thus, there is a need for further research to solidify these observations and explore the mechanisms underlying this relationship.