Association between reported work in cold environments and stroke occurrence in the CONSTANCES cohort: a prospective...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Cold environments are recognized as a potential risk factor for stroke.
• Understanding the occupational risks associated with cold exposure is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has suggested a link between cold and cardiovascular events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between occupational exposure to cold environments and the incidence of a first stroke.
• To determine if performing work tasks in cold conditions increases stroke risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the French population-based cohort CONSTANCES.
• Collected data on cardiovascular risk factors and occupational cold exposure (<10°C).
• Employed logistic regression models to analyze the association between cold exposure and stroke incidence, including stratified analyses for stroke types.

Main Results:

• Included 160,782 participants and recorded 224 stroke events (168 ischemic, 76 hemorrhagic).
• No statistically significant increase in stroke incidence was observed for individuals working in cold environments.
• The adjusted odds ratio for frequent or almost constant exposure was 1.14 (95% CI 0.46 to 2.84).

Conclusions:

• The study did not find a significant excess risk of stroke associated with occupational exposure to low temperatures.
• Further research is recommended to explore the impact of very low temperatures and preventive measures on cardiovascular disease occurrence.
• Current findings suggest that occupational cold exposure, within the studied range, may not be a primary driver of stroke incidence.