Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is a brain condition caused by the obstruction of a cerebral artery. It is the leading cause of death in women and the main cause of disability in adults.

In Spain, 120,000 people suffered a stroke in 2017. In Europe, it is estimated that by 2035 the number of strokes will increase by 34%.

It is a disease that can be prevented: 90% of episodes can be explained by modifiable factors, including the classic risk factors hypertension, diabetes and smoking, among others.

In recent years, air pollution has been gaining prominence as a modifiable risk factor affecting the entire population.

Main objective of the project

To evaluate the risk of suffering a stroke according to the concentrations of contaminants to which we are exposed and to analyse the clinical, sociodemographic and geographic factors associated with increased risk.

Previous evidence

This project is a continuation of the research into environmental epidemiology initiated in 2016, which led to one study demonstrating the association between exposure to soot (from diesel combustion, the main pollutant in cities) and the risk of suffering an atherothrombotic ischemic stroke.

Benefits of the research

All this information will be very useful for scientific, clinical, public health and general public stakeholders.

This support tool is intended to assist in decision-making to ensure that health is at the heart of all policies.