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Changing climate may be linked to rising death and disability from stroke in various regions across the globe, according to a recent study.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death after heart disease.
Researchers, who published their findings in the journal Neurology, analysed data spanning three decades and discovered that non-optimal temperatures, whether too high or too low, were increasingly associated with stroke-related death and disability.
It’s important to note that the study does not prove that climate change directly causes strokes, rather, it highlights an association between temperature fluctuations and stroke risk.
The study also did not examine other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
Researchers identified that most strokes occurred during lower than optimal temperatures, likely due to blood vessel constriction and increased blood pressure.
However, the study did not mention the optimal temperature range for the human body.
Higher temperatures were also linked to strokes possibly due to dehydration affecting cholesterol levels and blood flow.
“Significant temperature fluctuations in recent years have impacted public health and raised widespread concerns. Our study suggests that these temperature changes may escalate the global burden of stroke, particularly affecting older populations and regions with healthcare disparities,” said Lead author Quan Cheng, from Xiangya Hospital Central South University in Changsha, China.
The study analysed health records from over 200 countries and territories across 30 years, examining stroke-related deaths and disabilities attributed to non-optimal temperatures.
Findings indicated that in 2019 alone, there were 5,21,031 stroke deaths and 9.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to non-optimal temperatures.
Breaking down the data, researchers noted that a significant portion of stroke deaths were linked to lower temperatures. For instance, 474,002 deaths were associated with colder temperatures compared to higher temperatures.
When considering gender differences, the study revealed a higher death rate from stroke due to temperature changes among male participants (7.7 per 1,00,000) compared to female participants (5.9 per 1,00,000).
Regionally, central Asia exhibited the highest stroke death rate related to non-optimal temperatures (18 per 1,00,000).
At the national level, North Macedonia had the highest stroke death rate (33 per 1,00,000).
Cheng highlighted the need for further research to understand the impact of temperature change on stroke and to develop targeted interventions that address health disparities.
Future efforts should focus on implementing effective policies to combat climate change, including reducing fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and industrial emissions.