Health impact of urban green spaces: a systematic review of heat-related morbidity and mortality

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to scrutinise the impact of urban green spaces on heat-related morbidity and mortality. DESIGN: This systematic review was meticulously carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar including studies from January 2000 to December 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies that examined the influence of urban green spaces on heat-related morbidity and mortality, including randomised controlled trials, observational and modelling studies, were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A total of 3301 publications were initially identified, out of which 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. The selected studies were predominantly from high-income and upper-middle-income nations (95%). RESULTS: The research points towards a pattern where regions abundant in green spaces report lower rates of heat-related morbidity and mortality in contrast to those with sparse greenery. Additionally, urban vegetation appears to exert a positive influence on mental health and well-being, potentially aiding in offsetting the adverse health repercussions of high temperatures. CONCLUSION: Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating heat-related health risks, offering a potential strategy for urban planning to address climate change and enhance public health. Additional research is required to thoroughly comprehend the magnitude of urban greenery's impact on heat-related morbidity and mortality, as well as its interplay with other variables, including air pollution, socioeconomic status, among others.