Current trend in air pollution exposure and stroke.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and exposure to particulate air pollution is now recognized as one of the major modifiable risk factors. However, air pollution can vary in terms of physicochemical composition and exposition specificities. Therefore, its relationships with stroke outcomes remain under intense investigation.

Recent findings: This review highlights, alongside particles, that short-term and long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone is likely to be also linked to stroke-related morbidity and mortality. Moreover, air pollution may increase the risk of transitioning from a healthy status to incident stroke and morbimortality after stroke. Additionally, relationships may vary depending on the air pollution mixture (e.g., particle-related components, pollutant interactions), pollutant sources (e.g., traffic-related or not), stroke etiology (ischemic or hemorrhagic), or exposed individual's characteristics (e.g., age, sex, genetic predisposition, weight status). Nonlinear dose-response functions and short-term effect lags have been reported, but these features need further refinement.

Summary: The relationship between stroke and air pollution is now well established. Nonetheless, future research should further consider the physicochemical properties of air pollutants, multiple exposures, and individual vulnerabilities. Moreover, advanced statistical methods should be more commonly used to better describe the relationship shapes.