Life-course neighbourhood deprivation and brain structure in older adults: the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.

Neighbourhood disadvantage may be associated with brain health but the importance of exposure at different stages of the life course is poorly understood. Utilising the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, we explored the relationship between residential neighbourhood deprivation from birth to late adulthood, and global and local neuroimaging measures at age 73. A total of 689 participants had at least one valid brain measures (53% male); to maximise the sample size structural equation models with full information maximum likelihood were conducted. Residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in mid- to late adulthood was associated with smaller total brain (ß = -0.06; SE = 0.02; sample size[N] = 658; number of pairwise complete observations[n]=390), grey matter (ß = -0.11; SE = 0.03; N = 658; n = 390), and normal-appearing white matter volumes (ß = -0.07; SE = 0.03; N = 658; n = 390), thinner cortex (ß = -0.14; SE = 0.06; N = 636; n = 379), and lower general white matter fractional anisotropy (ß = -0.19; SE = 0.06; N = 665; n = 388). We also found some evidence on the accumulating impact of neighbourhood deprivation from birth to late adulthood on age 73 total brain (ß = -0.06; SE = 0.02; N = 658; n = 276) and grey matter volumes (ß = -0.10; SE = 0.04; N = 658; n = 276). Local analysis identified affected focal cortical areas and specific white matter tracts. Among individuals belonging to lower social classes, the brain-neighbourhood associations were particularly strong, with the impact of neighbourhood deprivation on total brain and grey matter volumes, and general white matter fractional anisotropy accumulating across the life course. Our findings suggest that living in deprived neighbourhoods across the life course, but especially in mid- to late adulthood, is associated with adverse brain morphologies, with lower social class amplifying the vulnerability.

Geographical differences in the financial impacts of different forms of tobacco licence fees on small retailers in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: Retailer licencing fees are a promising avenue to regulate tobacco availability. However, they face strong opposition from retailers and the tobacco industry, who argue significant financial impacts. This study compares the impacts of different forms of tobacco licence schemes on retailers' profits in Scotland. METHODS: We calculated gross profits from tobacco sales in 179 convenience stores across Scotland using 1 099 697 electronic point-of-sale records from 16 weeks between 2019 and 2022. We estimated different fees using universal, volumetric and separate urban/rural schemes. We identified the point at which 50% of retailers would no longer make a gross profit on tobacco sales for each scheme and modelled the financial impact of 10 incremental fee levels. The financial impact was assessed based on changes in retailers' tobacco gross profits. Differences by neighbourhood deprivation and urban/rural status were examined. RESULTS: The gross profit from tobacco per convenience store averaged £15 859/year. Profits were 2.29 times higher in urban (vs rural) areas and 1.59 times higher in high-deprivation (vs low-deprivation) areas, attributable to higher sales volumes. Tobacco gross profit decreased proportionally with increasing fee levels. Universal and urban/rural fees had greater gross profit reductions in rural and/or less deprived areas, where profits were lower, compared with volumetric fees. CONCLUSION: The introduction of tobacco licence fees offers a potential opportunity for reducing the availability of tobacco retailers. The likely impact of a tobacco licence fee is sensitive to the type of licence scheme implemented, the level at which fees are set and the retailers' location in relation to neighbourhood deprivation and rurality.

Neighbourhood deprivation across eight decades and late-life cognitive function in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936: a life-course study.

INTRODUCTION: although neighbourhood may predict late-life cognitive function, studies mostly rely on measurements at a single time point, with few investigations applying a life-course approach. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the associations between neighbourhood and cognitive test scores relate to specific cognitive domains or general ability. This study explored how neighbourhood deprivation across eight decades contributed to late-life cognitive function. METHODS: data were drawn from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 1,091) with cognitive function measured through 10 tests at ages 70, 73, 76, 79 and 82. Participants' residential history was gathered with 'lifegrid' questionnaires and linked to neighbourhood deprivation in childhood, young adulthood and mid-to-late adulthood. Associations were tested with latent growth curve models for levels and slopes of general (g) and domain-specific abilities (visuospatial ability, memory and processing speed), and life-course associations were explored with path analysis. RESULTS: higher mid-to-late adulthood neighbourhood deprivation was associated with lower age 70 levels (ß = -0.113, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: -0.205, -0.021) and faster decline of g over 12 years (ß = -0.160, 95%CI: -0.290, -0.031). Initially apparent findings with domain-specific cognitive functions (e.g. processing speed) were due to their shared variance with g. Path analyses suggested that childhood neighbourhood disadvantage is indirectly linked to late-life cognitive function through lower education and selective residential mobility. CONCLUSIONS: to our knowledge, we provide the most comprehensive assessment of the life-course neighbourhood deprivation and cognitive ageing relationship. Living in advantaged areas in mid-to-late adulthood may directly contribute to better cognitive function and slower decline, whereas an advantaged childhood neighbourhood likely affects functioning through cognitive reserves.

Potential impacts of spatial restrictions on tobacco retail availability in China: a simulation study in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVES: Regulating tobacco retail availability provides promising new opportunities for effective tobacco control. This study simulates the potential impacts of introducing spatial restrictions on the availability of tobacco in Shanghai, the largest city in China. METHODS: Twelve stakeholder-informed simulation scenarios under four types of spatial restrictions were considered: (1) capping, (2) ban of sales, (3) minimum spacing and (4) school-buffer exclusion zone. Tobacco retailer data for Shanghai (n=19 413) were used. The main outcome was per cent reduction in retail availability measured by population-weighted kernel density estimation across neighbourhoods, and impacts on social inequality in availability were estimated using the Kruskal-Wallis test and effect size estimation. All analyses were further stratified by three levels of urbanity to examine geographical disparities in overall effectiveness and equity of the simulation scenarios. RESULTS: All simulation scenarios have the potential to reduce availability, with overall reductions ranging from 8.60% to 85.45%. Compared with the baseline, the effect size regarding the association between availability and neighbourhood deprivation quintiles suggests that the most effective scenario, '500 m minimum spacing' between retailers, increased the social inequality in availability (p<0.001). Conversely, school-buffer scenarios were both effective and equitable. Additionally, the effectiveness and the equity impact of scenarios varied by urbanity level. CONCLUSION: Spatial restrictions offer potential new policy opportunities to reduce retail availability, but some may increase social inequality in accessing tobacco. For effective tobacco control, policymakers should consider the overall and equity impacts of spatial restrictions when developing comprehensive tobacco retail regulations.

Association of Life-Course Neighborhood Deprivation With Frailty and Frailty Progression From Ages 70 to 82 Years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.

Neighborhood features have been postulated to be key predictors of frailty. However, evidence is mainly limited to cross-sectional studies without indication of long-term impact. We explored how neighborhood social deprivation (NSD) across the life course is associated with frailty and frailty progression among older Scottish adults. Participants (n = 323) were persons selected from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 with historical measures of NSD in childhood (1936-1955), young adulthood (1956-1975), and mid- to late adulthood (1976-2014). Frailty was measured 5 times between the ages of 70 and 82 years using the Frailty Index. Confounder-adjusted life-course models were assessed using a structured modeling approach; associations were estimated for frailty at baseline using linear regression and for frailty progression using linear mixed-effects models. Accumulation was the most appropriate life-course model for males; greater accumulated NSD was associated with higher frailty at baseline (b = 0.017, 95% confidence interval: 0.005, 0.029). Among females, the mid- to late adulthood sensitive period was the best-fitting life-course model, and higher NSD in this period was associated with widening frailty trajectories (b = 0.005, 95% confidence interval: 0.0004, 0.009). To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the life-course impact of NSD on frailty in a cohort of older adults. Policies designed to address deprivation and inequalities across the full life course may support healthy aging.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Childhood Body Mass Index Trajectories From Birth to 7 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of increasing childhood overweight and obesity is a major global health concern, with local contextual factors identified as possible contributors. Robust research is needed to establish an evidence base supporting health policy decisions to reverse the trend. We aimed to examine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and trajectories of body mass index (BMI) from birth to age 7. METHODS: The present study included 11,023 children born within the Southwest Finland Birth Cohort who were free of severe conditions affecting growth with adequate exposure and growth data. We obtained child growth data until school age from municipal follow-up clinics. We based cumulative childhood neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on the average annual income, unemployment, and level of education in a residential area defined using a geographic grid at a spatial resolution of 250 m by 250 m. RESULTS: Cumulative neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with distinct childhood BMI z score trajectories from birth to age 7. Despite being born in the lowest BMI z scores, children growing up in disadvantaged neighborhoods subsequently exhibited a trajectory of increasing BMI z scores starting at 4 years of age, ending up with a higher risk of overweight at the end of the follow-up (30%) as compared with children living in more affluent neighborhoods (22%). The corresponding risk of obesity was 5 % for those in affluent neighborhoods and 9 % and those in disadvantaged neighborhoods. CONCLUSION: Cumulative exposure to neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is independently associated with unfavorable BMI development and obesity in childhood.

Lower social participation partly explains the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms in European adults aged 50 years or older: A longitudinal mediation analysis.

Neighbourhood crime likely increases the risk of developing depression among older adults. However, little is known about the underlying behavioural and social pathways. We examined the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms and whether this relationship was mediated by health behaviours (physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and social participation. Furthermore, we explored differential vulnerability across age, gender, education and household wealth. Data were drawn from six waves of longitudinal data (from 2004/2005 to 2017) of approximately 15,000 adults aged 50 years and older, derived from the multi-national Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Perceived neighbourhood crime and covariates were measured at baseline, time-variant mediators and depressive symptoms across all waves. Confounder-adjusted mediator and outcome models were fitted with mixed-effects models. Total association was decomposed into direct and indirect pathways applying causal mediation analyses with Monte-Carlo simulations. Perceived crime was associated with higher risk of depressive symptoms; 4.6% of the effect was mediated via lower engagement in social activities (b = 0.005; 95% CI: 0.001-0.009). No mediation was detected through physical activity, smoking or alcohol consumption. Exploratory analyses revealed that the mediating role of social participation was more pronounced among participants with low household wealth (b = 0.012; 95% CI: 0.004-0.023; 7.3% mediated). Lower engagement in social activities partly explained the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms in adults aged 50 years or older. Policies targeting disadvantaged communities to prevent crime and support social participation might be beneficial for population mental health, especially among financially vulnerable older residents.

A Cross-sectional Analysis of Socio-spatial Patterning of Tobacco Retail in Shanghai, China.

INTRODUCTION: International evidence from high-income countries demonstrates that the availability of tobacco tends to be greater in more urban and more deprived neighborhoods. However, little is known about the socio-spatial disparities in other settings, including megacities in China. This study investigated the patterning of tobacco retailers across Shanghai by types of tobacco retailers, including the relationship with levels of urbanity and neighborhood deprivation. AIMS AND METHODS: Tobacco retailer data (n = 19 413) was extracted from a web-scraped Points-of-Interest database. For all communities (n = 5432) across Shanghai, neighborhood tobacco retail availability was calculated using population-weighted kernel density estimation and grouped by quintiles of neighborhood deprivation and a 3-level urban classification. Associations were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis tests and epsilon squared. RESULTS: Across Shanghai, tobacco retail availability decreased from more urbanized areas to less urbanized areas. There was a statistical difference (p < .001) in the availability of tobacco retail across quintiles of deprivation, with the highest availability in the less deprived neighborhoods, and the lowest availability in the most deprived neighborhoods. However, this trend was reversed in the urban center, where retail availability was greatest in the most deprived areas. Convenience stores were the most common type of tobacco retailer across the city, while tobacco-only outlets were most strongly associated with levels of neighborhood deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: The results show an association between tobacco retail availability and neighborhood deprivation, which varied with levels of urbanity and types of tobacco retailers. These findings provide supportive evidence for further interventions that target reducing inequalities in exposure to tobacco retail. IMPLICATIONS: This is the first study to examine the relationship between tobacco retail availability and neighborhood deprivation in the context of Chinese megacities. Using data from Shanghai, China, we found a significant non-linear association between tobacco retail availability and neighborhood deprivation across the city. It is plausible that the socio-spatial disparities in tobacco retail availability at the neighborhood level may be a key factor explaining differences in smoking behaviors between sociodemographic groups. The findings emphasize the need for greater efforts in regulating neighborhood-level tobacco retailing in China.

Assessing the profile of support for potential tobacco control policies targeting availability in Great Britain: a cross-sectional population survey.

AIM: To examine the level of support for tobacco availability policies across Great Britain (GB) and associations between support for policy and sociodemographic, smoking and quitting characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional representative survey (the Smoking Toolkit Study) of adults in GB (n=2197) during September 2021. Logistic regressions estimated the associations between support for each policy and sociodemographic and smoking characteristics. FINDINGS: There was majority support for requiring retailers to have a license which can be removed if they sell to those under-age (89.6%) and for restrictions on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco near schools (69.9%). More supported than opposed raising the legal age of sale of cigarettes and tobacco to 21 (49.2% supported; 30.7% opposed; 20.1% unsure) and reducing the number of retailers selling tobacco in neighbourhoods with a high density of tobacco retailers (46.5% supported; 23.3% opposed; 30.2% unsure). More opposed than supported a ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to everyone born after a certain year from 2030 onward (a 'tobacco-free generation') (41.3% opposed; 34.5% supported; 24.2% unsure). Age was positively associated with support for raising the age of sale and inversely associated with requiring tobacco retailer licenses. Women were more likely to support raising the age of sale and reducing the number of retailers. CONCLUSIONS: Requiring tobacco retailer licensing and restrictions on sales near schools received majority support. Other tobacco availability policies received substantial support despite considerable opposition.

Is tobacco a driver of footfall among small retailers? A geographical analysis of tobacco purchasing using electronic point of sale data.

OBJECTIVE: Opponents of policies designed to reduce tobacco retail availability argue that tobacco products are a vital driver of 'footfall' in small retailers. This study considers the changing contribution of tobacco to footfall and revenue among convenience stores across Britain, compares tobacco to other 'footfall driver' products and assesses whether tobacco's importance varies by neighbourhood deprivation and urban/rural status. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of electronic point of sale systems data from 1253 convenience stores in Britain in 4 weeks in 2016 and 2019. We calculated the number and value of purchased basket types (Tobacco Only, Non-Tobacco, Mixed) in each year and by neighbourhood characteristics. RESULTS: The mean numbers of baskets per store containing tobacco fell by 47% during 2016-2019, a greater decline than any other footfall driver product. The sales value of tobacco products rose sharply over this time period due to increasing unit price. However, the proportion of store turnover accounted for by tobacco transactions declined. There were marked falls in the turnover from non-tobacco products in Mixed tobacco baskets. The proportion of baskets containing tobacco and the value of turnover from these baskets was greater in more deprived and urban areas but these places also experienced larger reductions over time, narrowing differences between areas. CONCLUSION: Tobacco's importance as a driver of footfall and related turnover among convenience retailers has reduced significantly in Britain in recent years, particularly in deprived and urban areas, undermining industry claims that tobacco is essential to the viability of these businesses.

Inequalities in children's exposure to alcohol outlets in Scotland: a GPS study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is a leading cause of harm in young people and increases the risk of alcohol dependence in adulthood. Alcohol use is also a key driver of rising health inequalities. Quantifying inequalities in exposure to alcohol outlets within the activity spaces of pre-adolescent children-a vulnerable, formative development stage-may help understand alcohol use in later life. METHODS: GPS data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 10-and-11-year-old children (n = 688, 55% female). The proportion of children, and the proportion of each child's GPS, exposed to alcohol outlets was compared across area-level income-deprivation quintiles, along with the relative proportion of exposure occurring within 500 m of each child's home and school. RESULTS: Off-sales alcohol outlets accounted for 47% of children's exposure, which was higher than expected given their availability (31% of alcohol outlets). The proportion of children exposed to alcohol outlets did not differ by area deprivation. However, the proportion of time children were exposed showed stark inequalities. Children living in the most deprived areas were almost five times more likely to be exposed to off-sales alcohol outlets than children in the least deprived areas (OR 4.83, 3.04-7.66; P < 0.001), and almost three times more likely to be exposed to on-sales alcohol outlets (OR 2.86, 1.11-7.43; P = 0.03). Children in deprived areas experienced 31% of their exposure to off-sales outlets within 500 m of their homes compared to 7% for children from less deprived areas. Children from all areas received 22-32% of their exposure within 500 m of schools, but the proportion of this from off-sales outlets increased with area deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Children have little control over what they are exposed to, so policies that reduce inequities in alcohol availability should be prioritised to ensure that all children have the opportunity to lead healthy lives.

Simulating the density reduction and equity impact of potential tobacco retail control policies.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the provision of tobacco is important for decreasing inequalities in smoking and smoking-related harm. Various policies have been proposed to achieve this, but their impacts-particularly on equity-are often unknown. Here, using national-level data, we simulate the impacts of potential policies designed to reduce tobacco outlet density (TOD). METHODS: Tobacco retailer locations (n=9030) were geocoded from Scotland's national register, forming a baseline. Twelve policies were developed in three types: (1) regulating type of retailer selling tobacco, (2) regulating location of tobacco sales, and (3) area-based TOD caps. Density reduction was measured as mean percentage reduction in TOD across data zones and number of retailers nationally. Equity impact was measured using regression-based Relative Index of Inequality (RII) across income deprivation quintiles. RESULTS: Policies restricting tobacco sales to a single outlet type ('Supermarket'; 'Liquor store'; 'Pharmacy') caused >80% TOD reduction and >90% reduction in the number of tobacco outlets nationally. However, RIIs indicated that two of these policies ('Liquor store', 'Pharmacy') increased socioeconomic inequalities in TOD. Equity-promoting policies included 'Minimum spacing' and exclusion zones around 'Child spaces'. The only policy to remove statistically significant TOD inequalities was the one deliberately targeted to do so ('Reduce clusters'). CONCLUSIONS: Using spatial simulations, we show that all selected policies reduced provision of tobacco retailing to varying degrees. However, the most 'successful' at doing so also increased inequalities. Consequently, policy-makers should consider how the methods by which tobacco retail density is reduced, and success measured, align with policy aims.

Using point-of-sale data to examine tobacco pricing across neighbourhoods in Scotland.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the geographical variation in tobacco price (cigarettes and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco) in convenience stores across Scotland and how this relates to neighbourhood income deprivation, tobacco retail outlet density and urban/rural status. METHODS: Tobacco price data from 124 566 shopping baskets purchased in 274 convenience stores during 1 week in April 2018 were obtained through an electronic point-of-sale system. These data were combined with neighbourhood-level measures of income deprivation, tobacco retail outlet density and urban/rural status. We examined brand price for 12 of the most popular cigarette brands and 3 RYO brands and variations in purchases by price segment; multivariable regression analysis assessed associations between area variables and tobacco price. RESULTS: Most stores sold tobacco in all price segments. The lowest priced subvalue brands were the most popular in all neighbourhoods but were most dominant in shops in more deprived neighbourhoods. When total sales were assessed, overall purchase price varied significantly by neighbourhood income deprivation; packets of 20 cigarettes were 50 pence (5.6%) lower and RYO 34 pence (2.7%) lower among shops in the two highest income deprivation quintiles relative to the lowest. Analysis of individual brands showed that for 3 of the 12 cigarette brands considered, average prices were 12-17 pence lower in more deprived neighbourhoods with the most popular RYO brand 15 pence lower. There was limited evidence of a relationship with tobacco retail outlet density. CONCLUSION: Across Scottish convenience stores, the purchase price of cigarettes and RYO was lower in more income-deprived neighbourhoods. The lower prices primarily reflect greater sales of cheap brands in these areas, rather than retailers reducing the prices of individual brands.

A data linkage study of the effects of the Great Recession and austerity on antidepressant prescription usage.

BACKGROUND: International literature shows unemployment and income loss during the Great Recession worsened population mental health. This individual-level longitudinal study examines how regional economic trends and austerity related to depression using administrative prescription data for a large and representative population sample. METHODS: Records from a sample of the Scottish Longitudinal Study (N=86 500) were linked to monthly primary care antidepressant prescriptions (2009-15). Regional economic trends were characterized by annual full-time employment data (2004-14). Economic impact of austerity was measured via annual income lost per working age adult due to welfare reforms (2010-15). Sequence analysis identified new cases of antidepressant use, and group-based trajectory modelling classified regions into similar economic trajectories. Multi-level logistic regression examined relationships between regional economic trends and new antidepressant prescriptions. Structural equation mediation analysis assessed the contributory role of welfare reforms. RESULTS: Employed individuals living in regions not recovering post-recession had the highest risk of beginning a new course of antidepressants (AOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.08-1.38). Individuals living in areas with better recovery trajectories had the lowest risk. Mediation analyses showed that 50% (95% CI 7-61%) of this association was explained by the impact of welfare benefit reforms on average incomes. CONCLUSIONS: Following the Great Recession, local labour market decline and austerity measures were associated with growing antidepressant usage, increasing regional inequalities in mental health. The study evidences the impact of austerity on health inequalities and suggests that economic conditions and welfare policies impact on population health. Reducing the burden of mental ill-health primarily requires action on the social determinants.

The Longitudinal Associations of Perceived Neighborhood Disorder and Lack of Social Cohesion With Depression Among Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: An Individual-Participant-Data Meta-Analysis From 16 High-Income Countries.

Although residential environment might be an important predictor of depression among older adults, systematic reviews point to a lack of longitudinal investigations, and the generalizability of the findings is limited to a few countries. We used longitudinal data collected between 2012 and 2017 in 3 surveys including 15 European countries and the United States and comprising 32,531 adults aged 50 years or older. The risk of depression according to perceived neighborhood disorder and lack of social cohesion was estimated using 2-stage individual-participant-data meta-analysis; country-specific parameters were analyzed by meta-regression. We conducted additional analyses on retired individuals. Neighborhood disorder (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25) and lack of social cohesion (OR = 1.76) were significantly associated with depression in the fully adjusted models. In retirement, the risk of depression was even higher (neighborhood disorder: OR = 1.35; lack of social cohesion: OR = 1.93). Heterogeneity across countries was low and was significantly reduced by the addition of country-level data on income inequality and population density. Perceived neighborhood problems increased the overall risk of depression among adults aged 50 years or older. Policies, especially in countries with stronger links between neighborhood and depression, should focus on improving the physical environment and supporting social ties in communities, which can reduce depression and contribute to healthy aging.

Mapping the visibility of smokers across a large capital city.

BACKGROUND: Smoking visibility may affect smoking norms with implications for tobacco initiation, particularly amongst youths. Understanding how smoking is distributed across urban environments would contribute to the design and implementation of tobacco control policies. Our objective is to estimate the visibility of smokers in a large urban area using a novel GIS-based methodological approach. METHODS: We used systematic social observation to gather information about the presence of smokers in the environment within a representative sample of census tracts in Madrid city in 2016. We designed a GIS-based methodology to estimate the visibility of smokers throughout the whole city using the data collected in the fieldwork. Last, we validated our results in a sample of 40 locations distributed across the city through direct observation. RESULTS: We mapped estimates of smokers' visibility across the entire city. The visibility was higher in the central districts and in streets with a high density of hospitality venues, public transportation stops, and retail shops. Peripheral districts, with larger green areas and residential or industrial land uses, showed lower visibility of smokers. Validation analyses found high agreement between the estimated and observed values of smokers' visibility (R = 0.845, p=<0.001). DISCUSSION: GIS-based methods enable the development of novel tools to study the distribution of smokers and their visibility in urban environments. We found differences in the visibility by population density and leisure, retail shops and business activities. The findings can support the development of policies to protect people from smoking.

Estimating and mapping cigarette butt littering in urban environments: A GIS approach.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette butts are some of the most common form of litter in the World, causing severe environmental damage. Analysing spatial distribution of cigarette butts in the urban environment may lead to useful insights for further interventions to reduce this form of litter. In this study, we present a GIS-based methodology to estimate the density of cigarette butts across a large urban area. METHODS: We collected information about discarded cigarette butts in outdoor public spaces by systematic social observation in a diverse sample of areas in Madrid, Spain. We used these data to estimate the density of cigarette butts in public spaces around the entire city by performing GIS analyses based on Kernel Density Estimations. Last, we validated these measures using on-field observations in a set of locations across the city. RESULTS: Hospitality venues and public transportation stops were the places with the highest concentrations of cigarette butts, followed by the entrances to educational venues and playgrounds. Central districts showed the highest amount of cigarette butts in contrast to peripheral ones. We found that our measure had good validity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.784. DISCUSSION: This is the first study estimating and mapping cigarette butt litter in a large urban area. We identified a set of outdoor public places with high concentrations of cigarette butts and found geographical unevenness in the distribution of this pervasive form of litter across the study area. Our findings demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of cigarette butts in the urban environment and the need for interventions to reduce its impact on both people's health and the environment.

How has the introduction of point-of-sale legislation affected the presence and visibility of tobacco retailing in Scotland? A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the local availability of tobacco is identified as the 'next frontier' in tobacco control. This paper examines the roles of tobacco retail outlet density and tobacco visibility in changing exposure to tobacco retailing before and after the introduction of point-of-sale (POS) legislation in Scotland. METHODS: National tobacco retailer register data were analysed to examine time trends in tobacco retailer density (2012-2017). Results were stratified by local authority, neighbourhood deprivation and urbanity. Next, an annual retail audit using a POS tobacco visibility tool assessed changes in total product visibility in all retail outlets in four study communities between 2013 and 2017. A longitudinal survey (2013-2017) of 5527 adolescents aged 12-17 in the four study communities enabled the calculation of residential and journey-to-school measures of tobacco retailer exposure. Trends were stratified by deprivation, urbanity and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Retail provision of tobacco declined following the introduction of the POS legislation in 2013. However, there were strong geographic differences; nationally, one-fifth of local authorities have increased provision since 2015. In the four study communities, tobacco retail provision was generally stable over the study period. Although product visibility of tobacco products reduced for adolescents there was growing socioeconomic disparity in the density of tobacco retailers and the visibility of tobacco storage. CONCLUSIONS: The POS ban reduced exposure to tobacco products in communities across Scotland. However, tobacco products remain widely available, and there is growing socioeconomic disparity in the availability and visibility of tobacco.

Adolescents' perceptions of tobacco accessibility and smoking norms and attitudes in response to the tobacco point-of-sale display ban in Scotland: results from the DISPLAY Study.

BACKGROUND: Scotland implemented a ban on open display of tobacco products in supermarkets in April 2013, and small shops in April 2015. This study aimed to quantify changes in perceived tobacco accessibility, smoking norms and smoking attitudes among adolescents in Scotland, following the implementation of partial and comprehensive point-of-sale (POS) tobacco display bans. METHODS: From the Determining the Impact of Smoking Point of Sale Legislation Among Youth (DISPLAY) Study's 2013-2017 annual surveys we retrieved data comprising 6202 observations on 4836 12-17-year-old adolescents from four schools. Applying generalised estimating equations, associations between time (postban: 2016-2017 vs preban:2013) and three outcomes were estimated. Outcomes were perceived commercial access to tobacco, perceived positive smoking norm (friends think it's OK to smoke) and positive smoking attitude (you think it's OK to smoke). Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographics, smoking status, family smoking, friend smoking and e-cigarette use. RESULTS: Crude trends showed an increase over time in perceived accessibility, norms and attitudes. However, after adjustment for confounders, mainly e-cigarette use, we found significant declines in perceived access (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.90) and in positive smoking attitude (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.49 to 0.91), but no change in perceived positive smoking norm (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.29). Current/past occasional or regular e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of perceived access (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 2.32 to 4.21), positive norm (OR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.16 to 4.02) and positive attitude (OR = 3.38, 95% CI 2.35 to 4.87). CONCLUSION: Only when taking into account that the use of e-cigarettes increased in 2013-2017 did we find that the POS tobacco display ban in supermarkets and small shops in Scotland was followed by reductions in adolescents' perceived accessibility of tobacco and positive attitudes towards smoking.

Use of sequence analysis for classifying individual antidepressant trajectories to monitor population mental health.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, antidepressant prescriptions have increased in European countries and the United States, partly due to an increase in the number of new cases of mental illness. This paper demonstrates an innovative approach to the classification of population level change in mental health status, using administrative data for a large sample of the Scottish population. We aimed to identify groups of individuals with similar patterns of change in pattern of prescribing, validate these groups by comparison with other indicators of mental illness, and characterise the population most at risk of increasing mental ill health. METHODS: National Health Service (NHS) prescription data were linked to the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS), a 5.3% sample of the Scottish population (N = 151,418). Antidepressant prescription status over the previous 6 months was recorded for every month for which data were available (January 2009-December 2014), and sequence dissimilarity was computed by optimal matching. Hierarchical clustering was used to create groups of participants who had similar patterns of change, with multi-level logistic regression used to understand group membership. RESULTS: Five distinct prescription pattern groups were observed, indicating: no prescriptions (76%), occasional prescriptions (10%), continuation of prior use of prescriptions (8%), a new course of prescriptions started (4%) or ceased taking prescriptions (3%). Young, white, female participants, of low social grade, residing in socially deprived neighbourhoods, living alone, being separated/divorced or out of the labour force, were more likely to be in the group that started a new course of antidepressant prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sequence analysis for classifying individual antidepressant trajectories offers a novel approach for capturing population-level changes in mental health risk. By classifying individuals into groups based on their anti-depressant medication use we can better identify how over time, mental health is associated with individual risk factors and contextual factors at the local level and the macro political and economic scale.