Fine particulate air pollution (pm2.5) and the risk of acute ischemic stroke
OʼDonnell, Martin J. ; Fang, Jiming ; Mittleman, Murray A. ; Kapral, Moira K. ; Wellenius, Gregory A.
OʼDonnell, Martin J.
Fang, Jiming
Mittleman, Murray A.
Kapral, Moira K.
Wellenius, Gregory A.
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2011-05-01
Type
Article
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Citation
OʼDonnell, Martin J. Fang, Jiming; Mittleman, Murray A.; Kapral, Moira K.; Wellenius, Gregory A. (2011). Fine particulate air pollution (pm2.5) and the risk of acute ischemic stroke. Epidemiology 22 (3), 422-431
Abstract
Background: Short-term changes in levels of fine ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) may increase the risk of acute ischemic stroke; however, results from prior studies have been inconsistent. We examined this hypothesis using data from a multicenter prospective stroke registry. Methods: We analyzed data from 9202 patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke, having a documented date and time of stroke onset, and residing within 50 km of a PM2.5 monitor in 8 cities in Ontario, Canada. We evaluated the risk of ischemic stroke onset associated with PM2.5 in each city using a time-stratified case-crossover design, matching on day of week and time of day. We then combined these city-specific estimates using random-effects meta-analysis techniques. We examined whether the effects of PM2.5 differed across strata defined by patient characteristics and ischemic stroke etiology. Results: Overall, PM2.5 was associated with a -0.7% change in ischemic stroke risk per 10-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5 (95% confidence interval = -6.3% to 5.1%). These overall negative results were robust to a number of sensitivity analyses. Among patients with diabetes mellitus, PM2.5 was associated with an 11% increase in ischemic stroke risk (1% to 22%). The association between PM2.5 and ischemic stroke risk varied according to stroke etiology, with the strongest associations observed for strokes due to large-artery atherosclerosis and small-vessel occlusion. Conclusions: These results do not support the hypothesis that short-term increases in PM2.5 levels are associated with ischemic stroke risk overall. However, specific patient subgroups may be at increased risk of particulate-related ischemic strokes.
Funder
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publisher DOI
10.1097/ede.0b013e3182126580
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland