Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Environmental Sciences
Measuring the Spatial Distribution of Heart-Respiratory Mortality and its Relationship with Geographical Factors in the Year Hot Period
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of remote sensing and Geographic Information System, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Natural Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, Isfahan University
3 Master's student in the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University
Abstract
Objective: Today, the root of many diseases, such as heart attacks, respiratory diseases, and cancers, is considered to be the pressures of daily life in cities. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of mortality of cardiovascular and respiratory patients in Mashhad and its relationship with geographical factors.
Methods: The study utilized data on the spatial distribution of mortality of cardiovascular and respiratory patients, climatic data, and remote sensing data to extract vegetation coverage indices and urban heat island indicators. Google Earth Engine was employed to estimate urban heat islands and vegetation coverage indices, followed by cluster analysis in a Geographic Information System. Finally, ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the relationship between geographical factors and the mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease.
Results: The results indicated that the spatial distribution of their mortality exhibited a clustered pattern with 99% confidence, identifying two hotspots in the central and western areas of the city. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between geographical factors and the spatial distribution of cardiorespiratory morality, particularly concerning urban heat islands, of course, this level of relationship is in low relationship but significance.
Conclusion: The association between cardiorespiratory mortality and the geographic factors examined in this study except urban heat islands is insignificant. So, it is recommended that future studies consider additional factors such as air pollution, noise pollution, genetics, dietary history, and social factors like occupation and place of residence in relation to mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases.
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