Ambient air pollution and the risk of acute ischemic stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The link between daily changes in level of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) air pollution (PM <2.5 μm in diameter [PM(2.5)]) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well established. Whether PM(2.5) levels below current US National Ambient Air Quality Standards also increase the risk of ischemic stroke remains uncertain.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 1705 Boston area patients hospitalized with neurologist-confirmed ischemic stroke and abstracted data on the time of symptom onset and clinical characteristics. The PM(2.5) concentrations were measured at a central monitoring station. We used the time-stratified case-crossover study design to assess the association between the risk of ischemic stroke onset and PM(2.5) levels in the hours and day

SUBMITTER: Wellenius GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3639313 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature