Stroke and Climate Change: A World Stroke Organization Scientific Statement - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #Climate Change
- #Stroke
- #Health Inequities
- Climate change is increasingly linked to stroke incidence, outcomes, and health inequities.
- Cold exposure, temperature variability, and extreme thermal events are consistently associated with increased stroke risk.
- Heat effects on stroke risk have been increasing over time.
- Low or varying barometric pressure, rapid humidity shifts, and exposure to wildfire smoke, dust, and sandstorms also increase stroke incidence.
- Compound weather events, like concurrent heat and humidity extremes, show additive or synergistic effects on stroke incidence and mortality.
- Older adults and those in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to climate-related stroke risks.
- Mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential to limit climate change and its impact on stroke risk.
- Stroke prevention and care systems should integrate climate risk awareness, patient education, and early-warning mechanisms.
- Priority areas include protecting vulnerable groups, standardized exposure metrics, and expanding research in underrepresented regions.
- Global collaboration and climate resilience in stroke care systems are critical to reducing stroke-related morbidity.