Utilizing Land Usage Over Time to Correlate Longevity Data: Kuwait

Healthy living is one of humanity's core goals in life. In 2024, a survey by Medtronic, the biotechnology company in collaboration with the Morning Consultant news program, illustrated that nearly two thirds of adults in the U.S would choose a shorter, healthier life over a longer one with health issues (1). The "Ideal life length" can be synthesized through the usage of a larger, more academic-based survey. The Pew Research Center's nationwide survey found that 69% of Americans would like to live between 79 & 100 years of age (2). There are certain areas in the world where the average life expectancy of citzens ranges in those numbers, called Blue Zones. A decades long work of National Geographic explorations in the most isolated and niche areas in the world discovered that there are 5 areas in the world were the average citizen lives to 100 and above which include: Ikaria, Greece, Loma Linda, California, Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, and Nicoya, Costa Rica (3) . The research outlined factors that pull these areas together, including a causal relationship between longevity and connection to green nature. These populations are all closely tied to lower class agricultural and nature based lifestyles that have been relatively devoid of modern urbanism and privilege; as well as constantly rely heavily on the land's natural form. Although these Blue Zones are spread across the globe, none of the Blue Zones are inherently urban environments. Urbanization has become a defining characteristic of modern societies. In Kuwait, this transformation is displayed eminently, with urban areas carrying over 98% of the population by 2017 (4). This rapid urban growth, primarily fueled by oil wealth, has resulted in significant infrastructural developments, while simultaneously introducing complex challenges. While much attention has been given to the physical and economic aspects of urbanization, less focus has been placed on its impact on public health, particularly life expectancy. This research seeks to address this important gap by carefully examining the relationship between Kuwait’s Urban Land Development Index (LDI, extracted from google maps) and life expectancy, aiming to provide nuanced insights into how urbanization influences health outcomes with Kuwait’s unique development makes it an ideal subject for investigation. Kuwait’s urbanization has been characterized by expansive development patterns that prioritize horizontal sprawl over vertical growth. This approach has led to increased dependency on automobiles, contributing to pollution which in turn affects the residents. Studies have shown that countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) experience disproportionately high rates of car dependency, typical with the record-breaking heat these regions can reach, leading to high carbon emissions and air pollution levels (5). The harsh weather causes the country to lack walkability and outdoor spaces, as Blue Zones require. Additionally, Urban heat islands (UHIs) have also emerged as a growing concern. UHIs describe the phenomenon where the built environment intensifies heat exposure (6). The combination of climate change and urban infrastructure make addressing urban health challenges a high priority as the world becomes increasingly urban. While existing studies have explored various aspects of urbanization in Kuwait (including spatial planning, energy inefficiency, and socio-environmental concerns) there is scarcity in research examining the direct relationship between urban development and its effects on public health and the length of the residents lives.