Global, regional, and national burden of stroke attributable to extreme low temperatures, 1990-2019: A global analysis.

Background: Extreme ambient temperatures have been linked to increased risks of stroke morbidity and mortality. However, global estimates of the burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures are not well-defined.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the global burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures and its spatiotemporal trend from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we obtained global, regional, and national data on deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized rate of DALYs (ASDR) of stroke attributed to extreme low temperatures, further stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Results: Globally, in 2019, an estimated 474,000 stroke deaths with the corresponding ASMR (6.2 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 4.6-7.9)) and ASDR (103.9 (95% UI: 77.0-134.5)) per 100,000 population, were attributable to extreme low temperatures. The most significant burden was observed in Central Asia, followed by Eastern Europe and East Asia. From 1990 to 2019, the global burden of stroke and its subtypes (ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) attributable to extreme low temperatures exhibited a decrease in both ASMR and ASDR. Significant decreases in stroke burden occurred in the high-SDI regions, high-income Asia Pacific, and subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. Moreover, the ASMR and ASDR increased with age and were higher in males than females.

Conclusion: The global stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures remains high despite a decreasing trend over the past three decades. The stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures was more notable for Central Asia, older people, and the male sex.