title: Health effects of neighborhood demolition and housing improvement: a prospective controlled study of 2 natural experiments in urban renewal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We took advantage of a 2-intervention natural experiment to investigate the impacts of neighborhood demolition and housing improvement on adult residents' mental and physical health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified a longitudinal cohort (n = 1041, including intervention and control participants) by matching participants in 2 randomly sampled cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2006 and 2008 in 14 disadvantaged neighborhoods of Glasgow, United Kingdom. We measured residents' self-reported health with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey version 2 mean scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for potential confounders and baseline health, mean mental and physical health scores for residents living in partly demolished neighborhoods were similar to the control group (mental health, b = 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.25, 6.23; P = .185; physical health, b = -0.24; 95% CI = -2.96, 2.48; P = .859). Mean mental health scores for residents experiencing housing improvement were higher than in the control group (b = 2.41; 95% CI = 0.03, 4.80; P = .047); physical health scores were similar between groups (b = -0.66; 95% CI = -2.57, 1.25; P = .486).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that housing improvement may lead to small, short-term mental health benefits. Physical deterioration and demolition of neighborhoods do not appear to adversely affect residents' health.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office, Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Srinivasa Vittal
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Katikireddi
authors.forename: Ade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tannahill
authors.forename: Martins
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalacs
authors.forename: Lyndal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012606:Scotland; D014506:Urban Renewal