Health Levels Influenced by Urban Residential Conditions in a Megacity—Tokyo

Abstract

Influences of residential conditions in a megacity on the health levels of residents were investigated. Correlations between mortalities and specified residential-condition indicators in study areas randomly selected from the megacity Tokyo were examined. Indicators representing housing and city planning were significantly correlated with mortalities after adjusting for socio-economic differences between the communities. Urbanisation to a certain level seems to have been associated with good health; however, the most densely developed artificial urban environment seems to be associated with negative health outcomes. Coping skills with regard to health problems are discussed in relation to health levels. A survey elucidated that the coping attitude of the elderly is related with their educational level, family structure, frequency of receiving health information and contact with a family doctor.