New Delhi, Sep 19: For the first time, a study on Thursday showed that ambient particulate matter air pollution is a top risk factor for subarachnoid haemorrhage a type of brain stroke at par with smoking. The study, led by an international team of researchers from India, the US, New Zealand, Brazil, and UAE showed that air pollution contributed to 14 per cent of the death and disability caused by this serious stroke sub type, on par with smoking. The study showed that coupled with air pollution, high temperatures as well as metabolic disorders, fuelled a significant rise in global cases and deaths due to stroke in the last three decades.
The number of people worldwide having a new stroke rose to 11.9 million in 2021 up by 70 per cent since 1990. Stroke related deaths rose to 7.
3 million up by 44 per cent since 1990. The study identified 23 modifiable risk factors responsible for 84 per cent of the stroke burden in 2021. In 2021, the five leading global risk factors for stroke were high systolic blood pressure, particulate matter air pollution, smoking, high LDL cholesterol, and household air pollution, with considerable variation by age, sex, and location.
It also showed substantial progress made in reducing the global stroke burden by reducing particulate matter air pollution 20 per cent, and smoking 13 per cent. “With 84 per cent of the stroke burden linked to 23 modifiable risk factors there are tremendous opportunities to alter the trajectory of stroke risk for the nex.