Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35642837›Full record

SynthesisHealth & place2022

Compact cities and the Covid-19 pandemic: Systematic review of the associations between transmission of Covid-19 or other respiratory viruses and population density or other features of neighbourhood design.

Xiaomeng Zhang, Ziwen Sun, Thulani Ashcroft, Marshall Dozier, Kayla Ostrishko, Prerna Krishan, Emilie McSwiggan, Markéta Keller, Margaret Douglas

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Health & place, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. The next viral pandemic-where do we stand?Folia microbiologica · 2025
    Review
  5. Observational
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xiaomeng ZhangCentre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Ziwen SunSchool of Design and Art, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ziwen.sun@bit.edu.cn.
Thulani AshcroftUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Marshall DozierInformation Services, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Kayla OstrishkoUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Prerna KrishanUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Emilie McSwigganUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Markéta KellerUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Margaret DouglasUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Living in compact neighbourhoods that are walkable, well connected, with accessible green space can benefit physical and mental health. However, the pandemic raises concern up to what extent features of compact neighbourhood design affect transmission of viral respiratory infections. We conducted a systematic review to identify, appraise and synthesise evidence reporting associations between transmission of respiratory viruses, including Covid-19, and dwelling or population density or other features of neighbourhood design. Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies used different measures of neighbourhood design, contributing to inconsistent findings. Whereas no convincing conclusion can be drawn here, the outcome of this review indicates that robust, global evidence is warranted to inform future policies and legislation concerned with compact neighbourhood design and transmission of respiratory and viral infection.

Indexed as

COVID-19VirusesCitiesEnvironment DesignHumansPopulation DensityResidence CharacteristicsWalkingCompact neighbourhoodsCOVID-19Population densityRespiratory infectious diseasesUrban design

Identifiers

PMID35642837
PMCPMC9119959

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.