Grant: Operating Grant: Prevention of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases

With heart disease the number one cause of death in Canada and worldwide, it is imperative to develop strategies for prevention at the community level. High levels of lipids (fats and cholesterol) in the blood are a major risk factor for heart disease. Recent research indicates that where we live can affect what we eat and our activity levels- two important determinants of blood lipids. For example, the presence of safe places to exercise or access healthy foods. However, it is currently unknown how these environmental characteristics may affect blood lipid levels and other behaviours such as smoking and stress, also important for lipid levels. This study will assess the communities of men and women from 17 countries to identify how environmental characteristics affect blood lipids. We will bring together community-level characteristics with individuals measures of blood lipids as well as behaviours in over 18 000 people from over 600 communities in 17 countries. These communities will cover five continents in the world. The results of this study will help to provide important information on how the community in which one lives can affect blood lipid levels as a major risk factor for heart disease. These data will then be able to inform community-based strategies for prevention of heart disease.