## 4 Discussion  
This study provides an in-depth analysis of the spatial relationship between food deserts and cardiovascular health among elderly populations in Greater Santiago, utilizing the MGWR model. The results underscore the significant impact of food accessibility on health outcomes, advancing our understanding of nutritional inequities and their implications for public health policy and urban planning. The reviewed literature highlighted the concept of nutritional transition [4], which describes the change from traditional diets--i.e., a dietary pattern based on home-cooked and natural foods, with a higher intake of cereals, legumes, and vegetables and low in meat and dairy products [35]--to diets dominated by highly processed foods due to economic and demographic changes. This shift is particularly pertinent in urban areas, where the availability of fresh, nutritious foods is often limited. The study's findings align with this theoretical framework by demonstrating a significant correlation between the presence of food deserts and higher rates of cardiovascular health among elderly residents. Specifically, the MGWR model, with an \(r^{2}\) value of 0.520, indicates that food desert probability explains a substantial portion of the variance in cardiovascular health outcomes. This relationship emphasizes the critical role of food environments in shaping dietary habits and health. The findings support previous research suggesting that areas with limited access to healthy foods contribute to poorer dietary quality [16; 17; 18] and increased risk of chronic diseases [8; 9]. The MGWR model's ability to capture local variations further illustrates how these effects are not uniformly distributed but vary significantly across different neighborhoods. The spatial heterogeneity revealed by the MGWR model underscores the importance of tailored public health interventions. High local \(r^{2}\) values in southern and eastern Santiago, such as in San Bernardo, La Pintana, and Puente Alto, indicate that these areas are particularly vulnerable to the negative health impacts of food deserts. These regions, often characterized by lower socioeconomic status, face significant barriers to accessing nutritious foods, which exacerbates health disparities, as observed in a recent study in US households [36]. Conversely, areas with lower \(r^{2}\) values, such as central and northern Santiago, may require a different approach to complement the understanding provided by this study regarding their access to healthy food. This variability may be crucial in developing a hypothesis about the relationship between improving food access and additional factors, such as healthcare access, education, and socioeconomic conditions, which also play pivotal roles in determining health outcomes [37]. The aging population in Chile presents unique challenges for public health [19; 20]. The study's focus on older adults in the cardiovascular program highlights a vulnerable group that is disproportionately affected by poor food environments, as has been observed in several recent studies [38; 39]. Therefore, with projections indicating a significant increase in the elderly population, the findings of this study underscore the urgency of addressing nutrition-related health disparities to improve the quality of life for older adults. In this regard, one study identified four themes that demonstrate how food and nutrition affect quality of life: food access and choice, food preparation, health and vitality, and enjoyment of food [40]. Furthermore, the relationships among these themes suggest that food and nutrition have a broad effect on the factors influencing the quality of life for older people. While enhancing food access in high-risk areas is crucial, the study suggests that addressing cardiovascular health requires a holistic approach. Interventions should also focus on improving healthcare access, education, and addressing socioeconomic barriers. The MGWR model indicates that these factors interact in complex ways across different neighborhoods.