%0 Journal Article
%T Short-term effects of ambient particulates and gaseous pollutants on the incidence of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke: a case-crossover study
%A Getahun Bedada
%A Craig J Smith
%A Pippa J Tyrrell
%A Adrian A Hirst
%A Raymond Agius
%J Environmental Health
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1476-069x-11-77
%X We performed secondary analyses of data collected prospectively in the North West of England in a multi-centre study (NORTHSTAR) of patients with recent TIA or minor stroke. A case - crossover study was conducted to determine the association between occurrence of TIA and the concentration of ambient PM10 or gaseous pollutants.A total of 709 cases were recruited from the Manchester (n£¿=£¿335) and Liverpool (n£¿=£¿374) areas. Data for the Manchester cohort showed an association between ambient nitric oxide (NO) and risk of occurrence of TIA and minor stroke with a lag of 3 days (odds ratio 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01 ¨C 1.11), whereas negative association was found for the patients from Liverpool. Effects of similar magnitude, although not statistically significant, were generally observed with other pollutants. In a two pollutant model the effect of NO remained stronger and statistically significant when analysed in combination with CO or SO2, but was marginal in combination with NO2 or ozone and non-significant with PM10. There was evidence of effect modification by age, gender and season.Our data suggest an association between NO and occurrence of TIA and minor stroke in Greater Manchester.Epidemiological studies have consistently shown associations between increased ambient air pollution and increased cardio-pulmonary mortality, morbidity and emergency department visits [1]. Admission rates and emergency department visits for stroke are increased following short-term variations in ambient particulate and gaseous pollution [2,3] and few studies have reported effects of short term changes in air pollution on TIA and stroke [4-6].The biological mechanisms underlying the link between air pollution and stroke are unclear. Cerebrovascular risks of air pollution may be related to increased coagulability of blood [7,8], destabilization of atheromatous plaques [9] or release of inflammatory mediators [10], all of which are associated with particulate air pollution [1].An association be
%K Particulate and gaseous air pollution
%K Transient ischaemic attack
%K Minor stroke
%U http://www.ehjournal.net/content/11/1/77