Review article
https://doi.org/10.21857/mzvkptz3n9
Air Pollution: a New Risk Factor for Developing Stroke
Vida Demarin
orcid.org/0000-0003-4942-259X
; International Institute for Brain Health, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Sandra Morović
; Aviva Medical Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Filip Đerke
; Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Many years scientist try to explore the connection between air pollution and its influence on human health and after numerous conducted researches they came up with the clear evidence that air pollution has a significant impact on overall health and especially on stroke. In the Global Burden of Disease Study, it has emerged as a significant contributor to the global stroke burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, these and some other researches have suggested a closer link between air pollution and ischemic stroke, due to huge diversity of the results of numerous other studies, for drawing definitive conclusions, fur- ther research is still needed.
Due to the complexity of stroke with its types and subtypes, the results of their reaction to air pollution dif- fer. Some studies have shown the link between cardioembolic stroke and AP, others with SAH but not with intracerebral haemorrhage. There was a suggestion that nitrogen dioxide exposure might be associated with stroke caused by small vessel disease, while other studies are not reporting any association of AP and the risk of ischemic stroke. In some studies, AP was more affecting young adults and in some, it was more pronounced in women. Some studies reported a more clear link between AP and recent stroke in patients with other risk factors like diabetes and previous stroke.
Studies have varied by the concentration and types of pollutants studied, which vary geographically, as well as by duration to AP exposure being short- or long-term, and in some studies being present only during warm seasons.
Regulations have improved air quality in many countries in Europe and the United States, resulting in greater life expectancy, which highlights the continued importance of further efforts in that direction.
Keywords
Air pollution; Stroke risk factors; Pollutant concentration; Exposure duration;
Hrčak ID:
231559
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2019.
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