<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>13</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ingrid Pelgrims</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Brecht Devleesschauwer</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stefanie Vandevijvere</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Eva M De Clercq</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vanessa Gorasso</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Johan Van der Heyden</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stijn Vansteelandt</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Assessing the benefits of hypothetical air pollution reduction interventions on stroke in Belgium</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">European Journal of Public Health </style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">air pollution</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">g-computation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stroke</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October 2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">33</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;Abstract&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Background&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The adverse health impact of air pollution exposure on stroke is already well documented but there is a lack of methodological tools to provide actionable evidence on the potential health benefits of realistic interventions. This study demonstrates the use of a parametric g-computation approach to evaluate the impact of hypothetical interventions targeting long-term exposure to air pollution on reducing the stroke prevalence in Belgium using data from three national Health Interview surveys (BHIS 2008-2013-2018).&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Methods&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;BHIS data (n = 27536) were linked to environmental data of the participant's residential address. A g-computation approach was used to calculate the potential impact fractions of five air pollution reduction interventions to decrease the prevalence of stroke. Regression models were adjusted for socio-economic, environmental and lifestyle factors. In the first and second scenario, the average annual exposure to PM2.5 was lowered to the WHO guideline (5 μg/m3) and reduced by 25%, respectively. In the third and fourth scenario, the average annual exposure to NO2 was lowered to the WHO guideline (10 μg/m3) and reduced by 25%, respectively. In the last scenario, the average annual exposure to BC was reduced by 25%.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Results&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Stroke was significantly associated with all air pollutants. A reduction in the risk of stroke was observed under the five scenarios: -0.87% [SE:0.24], -0.47% [SE: 0.17], -0.32% [SE: 0.19], -0.16% [SE:0.10], -0.13 % [SE: 0.07]. The proportion of prevented stroke cases would be respectively of 65.5%, 35.4%, 23.9%, 12.3%, 10%.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Conclusions&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;This study highlights the importance of air pollution on the stroke burden and demonstrates that air pollution reduction interventions could decrease the prevalence of stroke in Belgium.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Key messages&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;• Air pollution reduction interventions could significantly decrease the prevalence of stroke in Belgium.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;• Major benefits were observed for interventions targeting long-term exposure to PM2.5.&lt;/p&gt;
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