Abstract Urbanisation and global ageing are both accelerating, posing older people’s mental and cardiovascular health at risk. A growing number of studies suggests beneficial health effects when having contact with urban green spaces. This study investigates the effects of short-term exposure of older people to different urban green and street environments on physiological and psychological parameters relevant for cardiovascular health. A sample of 33 older men and women (mean age 63.5, standard deviation 4.2) was exposed to a long-standing urban park with widespread and old trees, to a newly developed park with diverse use opportunities and a busy street environment in the inner city of Leipzig, Germany. We measured heart rate variability using continuous ECG monitoring, blood pressure, mood using psychological questionnaires and perceived outcomes of restoration. We found significant decreases in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in the long-standing park indicating protective effects on cardiovascular health. Significant decreases in heart rate variability parameters were observed in the dense urban street environment indicating adverse effects on cardiovascular health. Level of naturalness and restoration experience were perceived highest in the old park reflecting common theories of restoration. In the light of these results, visiting urban green spaces should be considered as a valuable preventive measure for promoting cardiovascular health especially in older people. Although physical activity is considered by international recommendations for cardiovascular prevention, the combination with visits of green environments is yet to be implemented.

中文翻译：

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老年人参观不同城市绿地和街道环境的生理和心理影响：在密集的市中心地区进行的实地试验

摘要 城市化和全球老龄化都在加速，使老年人的心理和心血管健康面临风险。越来越多的研究表明，与城市绿地接触对健康有益。本研究调查了老年人短期暴露于不同城市绿色和街道环境对与心血管健康相关的生理和心理参数的影响。33 名老年男性和女性（平均年龄 63.5 岁，标准差 4.2）的样本暴露于一个古老的城市公园，树木广泛而古老，新开发的公园具有多种使用机会和市中心繁忙的街道环境德国莱比锡。我们使用连续心电图监测、血压、使用心理问卷调查情绪和感知恢复结果。我们发现长期公园的收缩压和脉压显着降低，表明对心血管健康有保护作用。在密集的城市街道环境中观察到心率变异性参数显着降低，表明对心血管健康有不利影响。旧公园的自然度和修复体验水平最高，反映了修复的常见理论。鉴于这些结果，参观城市绿地应被视为促进心血管健康，尤其是老年人心血管健康的一项有价值的预防措施。虽然身体活动被认为是预防心血管疾病的国际建议，