AGEING city-dwellers are more likely to suffer from non-infectious chronic disease, such as type II diabetes and arthritis, than their country cousins.
The University of Sydney finding was based on seven years of longitude data for 1256 people aged over 45 who had lived in the same area for 20 years.
The research also showed the odds of having a chronic condition increased by about 5 per cent for every year of age.
Lead author Deborah Black said city people were more exposed to range of environmental stresses, such as poor air quality, high-density housing and lack of green spaces and shade.
Professor Black said as people became older, their bodies were less able to cope with those stresses, which could accelerate the ageing process and intensify disease.
Do you think living in the city is bad for you?
