Living near green areas reduces the risk of suffering a stroke by 16
percent, study finds

Date:
March 15, 2022
Source:
IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute)
Summary:
The risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke, the most common type of
cerebrovascular event, is 16 percent less in people who have green
spaces less than 300 meters from their homes. The study took into
account information on exposure to three atmospheric pollutants
linked to vehicle traffic in more than three and a half million
people selected from among the 7.5 million residents of Catalonia,
over the age of eighteen who had not suffered a stroke prior to
the start of the study.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke, the most common type of cerebrovascular event, is 16% less in people who have green spaces less
than 300 metres from their homes. This has been revealed in a joint study
by the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Hospital del Mar,
the Catalan Health Quality and Assessment Agency (AQuAS) from the Catalan Government's Department of Health and the Barcelona Institute for Global
Health (ISGlobal), a centre promoted by the "la Caixa" Foundation. It
is the most important work in this field to date in Europe, analysing
data on the entire population of Catalonia between 2016 and 2017. It
has been published in the journal Environment International.


==========================================================================
The study took into account information on exposure to three atmospheric pollutants linked to vehicle traffic in more than three and a half million people selected from among the 7.5 million residents of Catalonia, over
the age of eighteen who had not suffered a stroke prior to the start of
the study.

Specifically, it analysed the impact of the levels of particulate matter
under 2.5 microns (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and soot particles
at the place of residence of each of the people studied. The number and
density of green spaces within a 300-metre radius of their homes was also studied. The data was obtained via geographic referencing and by designing models of exposure to the two determinants, using population data obtained
by reusing health information generated in Catalonia and anonymised by the
Data Analytics Programme for Research and Innovation in Health (Programa d'Anali'tica de Dades per a la Recerca i la Innovacio' en Salut; PADRIS)
and managed by the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment
(Age`ncia de Qualitat i Avaluacio' Sanita`ries de Catalunya; AQuAS).

More pollution, a higher risk of stroke The results indicate a direct relationship between increased levels of NO2 in the atmosphere and the
risk of ischaemic stroke. For every increase of 10 micrograms (myg)
per cubic metre, this risk increases by 4%. The same happens when PM2.5
levels increase by 5 myg/m3. In the case of soot particles, the risk
increases by 5% for every 1 myg/m3 increase in the atmosphere. These
figures are the same for the entire population, irrespective of other socio-economic factors, age or smoking habits.

"It should be borne in mind that, unlike other air pollutants, which have various sources, NO2is mainly caused by road traffic. Therefore, if we
really want to reduce the multiple risks that this pollutant poses to
people's health, we need to implement bold measures to reduce car use",
says Cathryn Tonne, a researcher at ISGlobal.

"The study demonstrates the importance of environmental determinants in
stroke risk. Given that it is predicted that the incidence, mortality
and disability attributed to the disease will increase in the coming
years, it is important to understand all the risk factors involved",
explains Dr. Carla Avellaneda, a researcher in the Neurovascular Research
Group at IMIM-Hospital del Mar and one of the main authors of the
study. Previous studies by the same group had already provided evidence
on the relationship between factors such as soot or noise levels and
the risk of suffering a stroke and its severity. All these factors act
as stroke triggers.

In contrast, having an abundance of green spaces within the
same radius from the home directly reduces the risk of suffering a
stroke. Specifically, up to 16%. In this sense, "People who are surrounded
by greater levels of greenery at their place of residence are protected
against the onset of stroke", says Dr.

Avellaneda. Exposure to green spaces is generally considered to have
beneficial effects through a variety of mechanisms, such as stress
reduction, increased physical activity and social contact, and even
exposure to an enriched microbiome.

Rethinking established air pollutant limits In view of this data, the researchers point out that it is necessary to reflect on the current
levels of atmospheric pollution that are considered safe. At the moment,
the thresholds set by the European Union are 40 myg/m3 for NO2, which the
World Health Organisation reduces to 10 myg/m3, and 25 myg/m3 for PM2.5,
which the WHO limits to 5 myg/m3. Currently, no levels have been set for
soot particles. In fact, the levels recorded during the period analysed
were lower, on average, than those set by the European authorities (17
myg/m3 for PM2.5, 35 myg/m3for NO2 and 2.28 myg/m3 in the case of soot).

"Despite compliance with the levels set by the European Union, we are
faced with the paradox that there is still a health risk, such as the
one we identified in this study, where there is a direct relationship
between exposure to pollutants in our environment and the risk of
suffering a stroke", explains Dr. Rosa Maria Vivanco, lead author of the
study and researcher at AQuAS and IMIM-Hospital del Mar. "The danger is
still present and many more measures need to be taken", considering the increase in the urban population and its ageing, she adds.

In this sense, Dr. Jaume Roquer, head of the Neurology Service at
Hospital del Mar and coordinator of the Neurovascular Research Group
at IMIM-Hospital del Mar, points out that "This study demonstrates the
real impact that environmental aspects have on the health of the Catalan population. In view of the effects of atmospheric pollution, the lack
of green spaces, noise, and so forth, more efforts and populational
strategies are needed to reduce its impact. Its harmful effects are
permanently and globally damaging. We must strive to achieve more
sustainable towns and cities where living does not mean an increased
risk of disease."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by IMIM_(Hospital_del_Mar_Medical_Research_Institute). Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. C. Avellaneda-Go'mez, R.M. Vivanco-Hidalgo, S. Olmos, U. Lazcano, A.

Valentin, C. Mila`, A. Ambro's, J. Roquer, C. Tonne. Air pollution
and surrounding greenness in relation to ischemic stroke: A
population-based cohort study. Environment International, 2022;
161: 107147 DOI: 10.1016/ j.envint.2022.107147 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220315113023.htm

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