Table 2.
Socio-demographic, environmental and health baseline profile of the study area
| Socio-demographic characteristics | Study area | Gipuzkoa | ||||
| - Inhabitants | 20,862 | 705,210 | ||||
| - > = 65 years (%) | 22.3 | 19.8 | ||||
| - Unemployment rate (%) | 12.9 | 10.1 | ||||
| - College education (%) | 15.6 | 23.3 | ||||
| - Foreign-born residents (%) | 8.0 | 6.5 | ||||
| Environmental characteristics | Study area | Standard values | ||||
| - Housing density (dwelling/ha) | 130.5 | 60.6 | ||||
| - Green spaces (%) | 10.5 | 20.1 | ||||
| - PM10: high peaks (μg/m3) | 48–228 | 50 (daily average) | ||||
| - Noise levels daytime/night-time (dB(A)) | 10 dB(A) higher than standard values | 65/55 | ||||
| - Degraded land (ha) | 11 | -- | ||||
| Study area | Gipuzkoa | |||||
| Health status | Men | Women | Total | Men | Women | Total |
| Morbidity | ||||||
| - All cancers (rates × 1003 inhabitants. Age-adjusted to European population)a | 972.1** | 403.9** | 639.01** | 513.03 | 275.9 | 377.6 |
| - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (cases/100 IHC)b | 2.87** | 1.15** | 1.99** | 1.74 | 0.82 | 1.61 |
| - Diabetes mellitus (cases/100 IHC)b | 6.59** | 6.45** | 6.51** | 5.37 | 4.23 | 4.79 |
| - Arterial hypertension (cases/100 IHC)b | 17.94** | 20.54** | 19.28** | 15.90 | 16.38 | 16.17 |
| - Anxiety-depression (cases/100 IHC)b | 5.18** | 14.18** | 10.05** | 3.64 | 8.82 | 6.27 |
| Risk factorsc | ||||||
| - Obesity (%) | 15.6 | 15.3 | 15.4* | 14 | 11.9 | 12.9 |
| - Smoking (%) | 31.8 | 26* | 28.9* | 28 | 19.3 | 23.5 |
| - Sedentary lifestyle (%) | 57.5 | 57.2 | 57.3* | 45.3 | 53.2 | 49.4 |
| All-causes of mortality (rates × 1003 inhabitants). Age-adjusted to European population)d | 860.6** | 354.6 | 567* | 694.7 | 353.8 | 502.6 |
| Consumption of psychotropic drugs (DDD)e | - | - | 75.6** | - | - | 51.9 |
| Hospital admissions (rates × 1003 inhabitants). Age-adjusted to standard European population)f | 1203.3** | 1019.8** | 1086.2** | 995.3 | 913.7 | 940.4 |
*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01
Source: aGipuzkoa Cancer Registry (1995–2004); bOsakidetza stratification database (2011); IHC = Individual Health Card; cESCAV Health Survey of the Basque Country (2007); dMortality Registry of the Basque Country (2004–2008); ePharmacy Registry, DDD = Defined Daily Dose; f CMBD Hospital Discharge Register (2005–2009)