TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Green Spaces and Noise Exposure on the Risk of Ischemic Stroke
T2 - A Case–Control Study in Lebanon
AU - El Masri, Jad
AU - Finge, Hani
AU - Afyouni, Ahmad
AU - Baroud, Tarek
AU - Ajaj, Najla
AU - Ghazi, Maya
AU - El Masri, Diala
AU - Younes, Mahmoud
AU - Salameh, Pascale
AU - Hosseini, Hassan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/10
Y1 - 2024/10
N2 - Background: Environmental surroundings reduce the rate of several diseases, especially those related to stressful events. Ischemic stroke can be affected by such events, either directly or through its risk factors. Therefore, the present study evaluates the effects of green spaces and noise exposure on the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: A case–control study was carried out, including 200 ischemic stroke cases within the first 48 h of diagnosis and 200 controls, divided equally into hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants. Controls were matched to cases based on age and gender. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed, in addition to environmental surroundings and noise exposure at home and at workplaces. Results: Living in a house, having a house garden, and taking care of the garden were associated with a lower risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). However, having buildings as the view from home led to a higher stroke rate (p < 0.001). Working in an urban area, the workplace being surrounded by buildings, and the workplace not being surrounded by green spaces were also associated with a higher risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.03, respectively). As for noise exposure, being exposed to traffic noise, human noise, and other types of noise was significantly associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke, while being exposed to higher levels of natural noise was significantly associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke. Higher levels of noise were also associated with higher risks of ischemic stroke in homes and workplaces (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Environmental surroundings and noise exposure were found to affect the risk of ischemic stroke. Greater green spaces and lower noise exposure play a protective role against ischemic stroke, suggesting a possible prevention strategy through environmental modifications at home and workplaces.
AB - Background: Environmental surroundings reduce the rate of several diseases, especially those related to stressful events. Ischemic stroke can be affected by such events, either directly or through its risk factors. Therefore, the present study evaluates the effects of green spaces and noise exposure on the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: A case–control study was carried out, including 200 ischemic stroke cases within the first 48 h of diagnosis and 200 controls, divided equally into hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants. Controls were matched to cases based on age and gender. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed, in addition to environmental surroundings and noise exposure at home and at workplaces. Results: Living in a house, having a house garden, and taking care of the garden were associated with a lower risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). However, having buildings as the view from home led to a higher stroke rate (p < 0.001). Working in an urban area, the workplace being surrounded by buildings, and the workplace not being surrounded by green spaces were also associated with a higher risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.03, respectively). As for noise exposure, being exposed to traffic noise, human noise, and other types of noise was significantly associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke, while being exposed to higher levels of natural noise was significantly associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke. Higher levels of noise were also associated with higher risks of ischemic stroke in homes and workplaces (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Environmental surroundings and noise exposure were found to affect the risk of ischemic stroke. Greater green spaces and lower noise exposure play a protective role against ischemic stroke, suggesting a possible prevention strategy through environmental modifications at home and workplaces.
KW - environment
KW - green space
KW - ischemic stroke
KW - noise exposure
KW - risk factors
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85207302630
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph21101382
DO - 10.3390/ijerph21101382
M3 - Article
C2 - 39457355
AN - SCOPUS:85207302630
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 21
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 10
M1 - 1382
ER -
