Understanding the role of contrasting urban contexts in healthy aging: an international cohort study using wearable sensor devices (the CURHA study protocol)

Yan Kestens (1, 2) , Basile Chaix (3) , Philippe Gerber (4) , Michel Desprès (5) , Lise Gauvin (1, 2) , Olivier Klein (4) , Sylvain Klein (4) , Bernhard Köppen (4) , Sébastien Lord (5) , Alexandre Naud (2) , Hélène Payette (6) , Lucie Richard (7) , Pierre Rondier (1) , Martine Shareck (8) , Cédric Sueur (9) , Benoit Thierry (1) , Julie Vallée (10) , Rania Wasfi (1, 2)

1 Montreal University Research Center
2 Ecole de Santé Publique de l'Université de Montréal
3 Epidémiologie, Systèmes d'Information, Modélisation
4 LISER - Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research
5 Ecole d'urbanisme et d'architecture de paysage
6 Canada Research Center on Aging
7 Faculty of Nursing
8 LSHTM - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
9 DEPE-IPHC - Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie
10 GC (UMR_8504) - Géographie-cités

Background Given the challenges of aging populations, calls have been issued for more sustainable urban re-development and implementation of local solutions to address global environmental and healthy aging issues. However, few studies have considered older adults’ daily mobility to better understand how local built and social environments may contribute to healthy aging. Meanwhile, wearable sensors and interactive map-based applications offer novel means for gathering information on people’s mobility, levels of physical activity, or social network structure. Combining such data with classical questionnaires on well-being, physical activity, perceived environments and qualitative assessment of experience of places opens new opportunities to assess the complex interplay between individuals and environments. In line with current gaps and novel analytical capabilities, this research proposes an international research agenda to collect and analyse detailed data on daily mobility, social networks and health outcomes among older adults using interactive web-based questionnaires and wearable sensors. Methods/Design Our study resorts to a battery of innovative data collection methods including use of a novel multisensor device for collection of location and physical activity, interactive map-based questionnaires on regular destinations and social networks, and qualitative assessment of experience of places. This rich data will allow advanced quantitative and qualitative analyses in the aim to disentangle the complex people-environment interactions linking urban local contexts to healthy aging, with a focus on active living, social networks and participation, and well-being. Discussion This project will generate evidence about what characteristics of urban environments relate to active mobility, social participation, and well-being, three important dimensions of healthy aging. It also sets the basis for an international research agenda on built environment and healthy aging based on a shared and comprehensive data collection protocol.

Mots clés: Mixed methods; Wearable sensors; GIS; Spatial epidemiology; Healthy aging; Daily mobility; Physical activity; Social participation; Social networks

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Yan Kestens, Basile Chaix, Philippe Gerber, Michel Desprès, Lise Gauvin, et al.. Understanding the role of contrasting urban contexts in healthy aging: an international cohort study using wearable sensor devices (the CURHA study protocol). BMC Geriatrics, 2016, 16 (1), pp.96. ⟨10.1186/s12877-016-0273-7⟩. ⟨hal-01323847⟩