Ischaemic stroke linked to dust storm pollution

ASIAN dust storms are significantly associated with a higher risk of overall stroke admissions in Taiwanese hospitals, according to a large data analysis.

Taiwanese researchers examined hospital data from more than 810,000 stroke admissions that took place in 2000–09 and examined when they had occurred in relation to dust storms.

They found that the first and second day after a dust storm was associated with a higher number of ischaemic, but not haemorrhagic, strokes compared to dust-free days.

This was likely due to the pollution caused by the dust storms, the researchers said.

“Physicians should be aware of this association and provide adequate information to patients with a high risk of having a cardiovascular event,” the authors wrote.|
J Epidemiol Community Health 2012; online 23 July