Access to public sports infrastructure in Poland as a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases

JASIURA, Adam, LIPCZYŃSKA, Wiktoria, WARCHOŁ, Konrad and GORZEL, Mateusz. Access to public sports infrastructure in Poland as a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;21(1):115-122. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.21.01.012

https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/44849

https://zenodo.org/record/8169591

The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 21, 2021. No. 32343.

Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences).

Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 21 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159.

Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu).

© The Authors 2023;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Received: 30.06.2023. Revised: 30.06.2023. Accepted: 20.07.2023. Published: 25.07.2023.

Access to public sports infrastructure in Poland as a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases

Adam Jasiura¹

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4648-0981; adam.jasiura@student.umw.edu.pl

Wiktoria Lipczyńska²

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9579-6173; wlipczynska@su.krakow.pl

Konrad Warchoł³

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9467-680X; konrad.wrh@gmail.com

Mateusz Gorzel⁴

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0506-0152; mateusz.gorzel@umw.edu.pl

1- Dolnośląskie Centrum Onkologii, Pulmonologii i Hematologii we Wrocławiu, Plac Ludwika Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wrocław

2- University Hospital in Krakow, Mikołaja Kopernika 36, 31-501 Kraków

3- Medical University of Lublin, Aleje Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland

4 - Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego we Wrocławiu; ul. Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant health concern globally, including in Poland. Physical activity has been identified as a crucial preventive factor for CVDs, and access to public sports infrastructure plays a vital role in promoting physical activity. However, the relationship between access to such infrastructure and its impact on cardiovascular health outcomes in Poland remains understudied.

Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate the impact of access to public sports infrastructure on the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality rates in Poland.

Materials and methods: Publicly available data were obtained regarding sports facilities, population structure, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Results: There is a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.3096; p < 0.001) between hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases and the stadiums and playing fields available in the studied countries. The correlation between cardiovascular hospitalizations and indoor and outdoor arenas and gyms was also negative, but its effect was moderately weak (r = -0.2068, p < 0.001; r = -0.2597, p < 0.001, respectively). The average hospitalization rate for cardiovascular diseases in subjects over 65 years of age (M = 12117.24) was significantly higher compared to the group of all subjects (M = 3082.18) and subjects under 65 years of age (M = 1260.96). There is a negative correlation between the death rate and the availability of selected sports facilities, with a moderately weak effect for all sports infrastructure subgroups (r = -0.215 - -0.233).

Conclusion: The effect of accessibility to public sport infrastructure on CVDs prevalence and related deaths is moderate to weak. The studied positive effect particularly affects people under 65 years of age. Further studies of other sport-connected predictors may be beneficial.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, sport, prevention, public infrastructure.