Relationship Between Environmental Health and Health Status Indicators: A Canonical Correlation Analysis Approach

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between environmental health and health status. The data were obtained from the Environmental Performance Index and Global Health Observatory database. Air quality, sanitation/drinking water, heavy metals and waste management were used as environmental health data. Life expectancy at birth, healthy life expectancy and neonatal mortality rate were used as health status data. Canonical correlation analysis was performed with data from a total of 130 world countries. As a result, a statistically significant correlation was found between environmental health and health outcomes. 65.48% of the change in the health status was explained by environmental health. ‘Air quality’ and ‘sanitation/drinking water’ were the variables that affected health status the most. Life expectancy at birth was the variable most affected by environmental health. It can be said that increased investment in environmental quality has the potential to ultimately lead to better living conditions and improvements in health status. It is recommended that policymakers, business partners, city leaders and health managers collaborate to design environmental health policies that will protect environmental resources and ensure their sustainability.