Dirty Air Increases Risk for Stroke

Individuals who live in US counties with dirtier air have higher rates of death due to stroke as well as shorter life expectancies, according to a new study.

The study, authored by Dr Longjian Liu and colleagues, will be presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference on Wednesday, February 6.

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To reach this conclusion, Liu and team examined the average yearly levels air pollution that contains fine inhalable particles.

The researchers analyzed such pollution from 1561 counties across the United States between 2005 and 2010.

The annual average for fine air pollution across those years was 11.75 micrograms per cubic meter. While this is at a level considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency, 51% of the counties had an annual average exceeding 12 micrograms per cubic meter, which exceeds the acceptable yearly pollution limit.

When evaluating the association between the counties’ average yearly pollution levels and their populations’ health, the researchers determined that the dirtier the air, the more stroke deaths and the shorter the life expectancy among men and women.

Pollution’s impact on health was especially apparent in counties with higher poverty rates and fewer health care providers.

The biggest impact on stroke was in the South, though other factors such as poverty, diet, smoking, and health services availability might contribute to the high rates of stroke in what the researchers referenced as the “stroke belt.”

“To reduce the risk of stroke, clinicians should consider their patients’ likely exposure to air pollution along with other risk factors. They can ask patients whether they live or work in an urban industrial area or whether they are aware of sources of pollution near their home or workplace,” Liu said.

“Clinicians can then encourage at-risk patients to take measures to reduce their exposure when possible, such as avoiding major roadways during rush hour traffic, keeping car windows closed, and setting the air conditioner to circulate internal air.”

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Counties with dirtier air have more stroke deaths [press release]. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; January 30, 2019. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/counties-with-dirtier-air-have-more-stroke-deaths?preview=2da9. Accessed February 6, 2019.