Spatiotemporal association between air pollution and stroke mortality in South Korea

Air pollutant concentrations in South Korea vary greatly by region and time. To assess temporal and spatial associations of stroke subtypes with long-term air pollution effects on stroke mortality, we studied ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

This was an observational study conducted in South Korea from 2001-2018. Concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and particulate matter ≤10 µm in diameter (PM₁₀) were determined from 332 stations. Average air pollutant concentrations in each district were determined by distance-weighted linear interpolation. The nationwide stroke mortality rates in 249 districts were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. Time intervals were divided into three consecutive 6-year periods: 2001-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2018.

The concentrations of air pollutants gradually decreased from 2001-2018, along with decreases in IS and ICH mortality rates. However, mortality rates associated with SAH remained constant. From 2001-2006, NO₂ (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.19), SO₂ (aOR: 1.10, 1.07-1.13), and PM₁₀ (aOR: 1.12, 1.06-1.18) concentrations were associated with IS mortality, and SO₂ (aOR: 1.07, 1.02-1.13) and PM₁₀ (aOR:1.11,1.06-1.22) concentrations were associated with SAH-associated mortality. Air pollution was no longer associated with stroke mortality from 2007 onward, as the air pollution concentration continued to decline. Throughout the entire 18-year period, ICH-associated mortality was not associated with air pollution.

Considering temporal and spatial trends, high concentrations of air pollutants were most likely to be associated with IS mortality. Our results strengthen the existing evidence of the deleterious effects of air pollution on IS mortality.