ArticleBMC public health2026
Association between exposure to green and blue spaces and respiratory health in the elderly: a scoping review.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Association between exposure to green and blue spaces and respiratory health in the elderly: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionGiven the ageing global population, chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and emphysema are increasingly contributing to health and economic burdens. Green and blue spaces offer potential respiratory health benefits through improved air quality, increased physical activity, and reduced stress. However, evidence regarding their impact on older adults is limited, with few studies addressing this population's long-term respiratory health outcomes. This scoping review aims to assess the effects of exposure to green and blue spaces on the respiratory health of older adults.
methodsStudies evaluating the impact of green and blue spaces on respiratory health in adults aged > 65 years were identified from Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, with publications from August 2013 to August 2023 included. Both observational and experimental studies were considered. Inclusion criteria were defined based on the PCC framework (Population, Concept, Context). Data extraction and synthesis were conducted independently by multiple researchers.
resultsAccording to inclusion criteria, 27 studies were identified, including three intervention studies and 24 observational studies. Green spaces were linked to lower risks of mortality from lung cancer, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the evidence for short-term effects was mixed, with some studies showing improvements in lung function and reduced respiratory symptoms after brief exposure to green spaces, while others found no significant changes. Only one study on blue spaces was retrieved, suggesting that coastal living may lessen the impact of air pollution on COPD hospitalizations.
conclusionThis review suggests that exposure to green spaces can offer significant respiratory health benefits, particularly in reducing mortality from respiratory diseases. The evidence for blue spaces remains limited, and the mixed results for short-term effects highlight the need for further research.
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Registered trials
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