Neighborhood Environmental Health and Premature Death From Cardiovascular Disease

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Three maps of census tracts in the city of Atlanta depict spatial patterns of premature CVD mortality rates for the overall population from 2010 through 2014, as well as walkability and food access scores. The figure consists of three maps in three panels. One map shows the spatial pattern of overall premature CVD mortality rates in Atlanta; premature CVD mortality rates are presented in quintiles; these mortality rate categories are common for both Figure 1 and Figure 2 so the maps can be directly compared. Census tracts in western and southwestern Atlanta have higher mortality rates, while census tracts in north and northeastern Atlanta have lower mortality rates or are excluded from the figure because of small numbers of premature CVD deaths (fewer than 5 deaths in a 5-year period). A second map shows the range of walkability scores in census tracts in Atlanta. Census tracts further from the city center in the north, west, and south have higher walkability scores. The third panel shows food access scores in census tracts in Atlanta. Census tracts west and southwest Atlanta have the highest food access scores and census tracts in the north and northeast parts of the city have the lowest food access scores, or best food access. This pattern is similar to the spatial pattern observed for premature CVD mortality rates.

Figure 1.
Overall premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate, walkability score, and food access score by census tract, Atlanta, Georgia, 2010–2014. Walkability score is on a scale of 0 to 100, and a higher walkability score indicates worse walkability. Food access scores range from 0 to 100, and a low score indicates better food access. Food access scores and walkability scores are presented in quintiles; these categories are common to both Figure 1 and Figure 2 so the maps can be directly compared.

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Three maps of census tracts in the city of Atlanta depict spatial patterns of premature CVD mortality rates for the black population from 2010 through 2014, as well as walkability scores and food access score. One map shows the spatial pattern of black premature CVD mortality rates in Atlanta; premature CVD mortality rates are presented in quintiles; these mortality rate categories are common for both Figure 1 and Figure 2 so the maps can be directly compared. Census tracts in western, southwestern, and far eastern Atlanta have higher mortality rates, while census tracts in north and northeastern Atlanta are largely excluded from the figure because of small numbers of black premature CVD deaths (fewer than 5 deaths in a 5-year period). The second map shows the range of walkability scores in census tracts in Atlanta. A higher walkability score indicates worse walkability, and census tracts farther from the city center in the west and south have higher walkability scores. The third map shows food access scores in census tracts in Atlanta; higher food access scores indicate worse food accessibility. Census tracts west and southwest Atlanta have the highest food access scores and census tracts in eastern Atlanta have lower food access scores. This pattern is similar to the spatial pattern observed for premature CVD mortality rates in western and southwestern Atlanta. Food access scores and walkability scores are presented in quintiles; these categories are common for both Figure 1 and Figure 2 so the maps can be directly compared.

Figure 2.
Premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate, walkability score, and food access score among black residents, Atlanta, Georgia, 2010–2014. Walkability score is on a scale of 0 to 100, and a higher walkability score indicates worse walkability. Food access scores range from 0 to 100, and a low score indicates better food access. Premature CVD mortality rates are presented in quintiles; these mortality rate categories are common to both Figure 1 and Figure 2 so the maps can be directly compared.

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