Air pollution is associated with stroke trajectories

Air pollution is broadly linked
to an increased risk of stroke.
A new study looks at the effects of air pollution on stroke trajectories, including cardiovascular events and deaths
after the first stroke.
The study was published in the September 28, 2022 issue of the online journal Neurology, medical journal of the
American Neurological Society.

Study author Dr Lin Hualiang of the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, said: "We found that high levels of air pollution are associated with an increased risk of transition from health to first stroke, cardiovascular events and death after stroke, but have a greater
impact on the transition from health to stroke.
" "These results suggest that understanding and reducing the impact of air pollutants on the different transition stages of stroke will help manage people's health and prevent the occurrence and development
of stroke.
"

The study involved 318752 people in the UK Biobank database with an average age of 56
.
At the start of the study, participants had no history
of stroke or heart disease.
The researchers looked at people's exposure to air pollution based on where they lived at the start of the study
.
These participants were followed for an average of 12 years
.

During this period, 5967 people suffered a stroke
.
Of those, 2,985 developed cardiovascular disease and 1,020 later died
.

People exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely than those who have not been exposed to high levels of air pollution to have their first stroke, cardiovascular disease, or death
after a stroke.

After adjusting for other factors that may play a role, such as smoking and physical activity levels, the researchers found that, for example, for every 5 micrograms of fine particulate matter increased by 5 micrograms per cubic meter (micrograms/cubic meter), the risk of transition from health to first stroke increased by 24 percent, and the risk of transition from health to death increased by 30 percent
.
Particulate matter consists
of a liquid or solid suspended in the air.
Fine particulate matter PM2.
5 has a diameter of less than 2.
5 microns and includes fly ash
from coal combustion.
The average PM2.
5 exposure was 10.
03 μ g/m3 in patients with stroke during the study period, while the average exposure to PM2.
5 was 9.
97 μ g/m3
in patients without stroke.

The researchers also found that pollutants nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide were associated
with an increased risk of stroke and death.

"More research is needed, but reducing exposure to severe air pollution may play a role
in reducing progress in stroke reduction," Professor Lin said.
"People can reduce exposure to pollutants
by staying indoors in heavily polluted weather, reducing outdoor exercise, wearing masks to filter particulate matter and using air purifiers.
"

Lin noted that the findings don't prove that air pollution causes stroke, cardiovascular disease or death, they just show a link
between the two.

One limitation of the study was that air pollution exposure was assessed only at the beginning of the study and based only on the participants' places
of residence.

Learn more about stroke on BrainandLife.
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The American Neurological Society is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with more than 38,000 members
.
AAN is committed to promoting the highest quality of patient-centered neurocare
.
Neurologists are physicians who are specially trained in diagnosing, treating, and managing brain and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy
.

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