Objective:To analyze the distribution characteristics of sports facilities in China using geographic information system (ArcGIS) and to investigate their association with mortality risk among residents.Methods:This prospective cohort study included 97 912 community residents from the Chinese Family Database (CFD) between 2013 and 2017. After excluding participants lost to follow-up and those with incomplete data, 53 937 individuals were retained for the analysis. The distribution characteristics of sports facilities in China was mapped using ArcGIS, and the death events were recorded via structured interviews and questionnaires. The Poisson regression was used to assess the association between the distribution characteristics of sports facilities near participants′ residences and their mortality risk.Results:In 2013, a total of 79 714 sports facilities were identified across 262 districts (counties) in China, with large-scale sports facilities accounting for the highest proportion (87.09%). The median number of sports facilities within the residential buffer zone was 17 (4, 30), and the median distance from the residence to the nearest sports facility was 453.2 (341.5, 1 863.5) m. Among the 53 937 community residents analyzed in this study, there were 27 761 males and 26 176 females, 1 326 deaths (2.5%) occurred during the follow-up. Poisson regression revealed that a higher number of sports facilities in the buffer zone (≥21 vs 0-2) was associated with lower mortality risk ( RR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85; P0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that being≥60 years old ( RR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95), males ( RR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.95), females ( RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.97), having a junior high school education or less ( RR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.99), and having a urban residence ( RR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.66-0.90) were all negatively associated with residents′ mortality risk (all P0.05). After adjusting for age, greater distance to the nearest sports facility ( RR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83) and failing to meet the"10-minute fitness circle"criterion ( RR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.02-1.53) were associated with higher mortality risk among males (both P0.05). After adjusting for age and gender, urban residents with a greater distance to the nearest sports facility ( RR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.04-1.60) or not meeting the 10-minute fitness circle ( RR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-1.38) showed a significantly higher mortality risk (both P0.05). Conclusions:The ArcGIS analysis revealed that the distribution of sports facilities in China is characterized by a high proportion of large-scale facilities. Lower facility density within residential buffer zone and greater distance to the nearest facility increase mortality risk among adults.

Objective:To analyze the distribution characteristics of sports facilities in China using geographic information system (ArcGIS) and to investigate their association with mortality risk among residents.Methods:This prospective cohort study included 97 912 community residents from the Chinese Family Database (CFD) between 2013 and 2017. After excluding participants lost to follow-up and those with incomplete data, 53 937 individuals were retained for the analysis. The distribution characteristics of sports facilities in China was mapped using ArcGIS, and the death events were recorded via structured interviews and questionnaires. The Poisson regression was used to assess the association between the distribution characteristics of sports facilities near participants′ residences and their mortality risk.Results:In 2013, a total of 79 714 sports facilities were identified across 262 districts (counties) in China, with large-scale sports facilities accounting for the highest proportion (87.09%). The median number of sports facilities within the residential buffer zone was 17 (4, 30), and the median distance from the residence to the nearest sports facility was 453.2 (341.5, 1 863.5) m. Among the 53 937 community residents analyzed in this study, there were 27 761 males and 26 176 females, 1 326 deaths (2.5%) occurred during the follow-up. Poisson regression revealed that a higher number of sports facilities in the buffer zone (≥21 vs 0-2) was associated with lower mortality risk ( RR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85; P0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that being≥60 years old ( RR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95), males ( RR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.95), females ( RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.97), having a junior high school education or less ( RR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.99), and having a urban residence ( RR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.66-0.90) were all negatively associated with residents′ mortality risk (all P0.05). After adjusting for age, greater distance to the nearest sports facility ( RR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83) and failing to meet the"10-minute fitness circle"criterion ( RR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.02-1.53) were associated with higher mortality risk among males (both P0.05). After adjusting for age and gender, urban residents with a greater distance to the nearest sports facility ( RR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.04-1.60) or not meeting the 10-minute fitness circle ( RR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-1.38) showed a significantly higher mortality risk (both P0.05). Conclusions:The ArcGIS analysis revealed that the distribution of sports facilities in China is characterized by a high proportion of large-scale facilities. Lower facility density within residential buffer zone and greater distance to the nearest facility increase mortality risk among adults.