Ischemic Stroke Burden Attributable to Household Air Pollution in WHO Regions from 1990 to 2021

Household air pollution (HAP) is a major environmental risk factor. It is strongly associated with increased disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and mortality from ischemic stroke (IS). This study aims to evaluate the burden of IS attributable to HAP across WHO regions. This study used Global Burden of Disease 2021 to analyze the IS burden attributed to HAP across WHO regions from 1990 to 2021. We used Joinpoint regression to analyze the temporal trend. The annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change were calculated. We also assessed the age-specific burden of IS in the WHO regions for 2021. From 1990 to 2021, the burden of IS attributable to HAP in WHO regions showed a downward trend, with the highest burden in the African region and the lowest in the European region and the region of the Americas. The most substantial decline occurred in the European region between 2005 and 2010, with the age-standardized DALY rates for both sexes and the age-standardized mortality rates for males decreasing markedly (APC = − 15.17 and −15.19, respectively). The burden is heavier in the elderly, especially males, and the mortality and DALY rates increase significantly after the age of 60. The Western Pacific region, Southeast Asian region, and African region are the regions with the highest burden in 2021. HAP remains an important risk factor for IS burden. It is necessary to take targeted prevention strategies and measures to reduce regional differences.