Seasonal variation in coronary heart disease in Scotland.

Abstract

Study objective -Seasonality of coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined to determine whether fatal and non-fatal disease have the same annual rhythm. Design -Time series analysis was carried out on retrospective data over a 10 year period and analysed by age groups (<45 to >75 years) and gender. (under 45 years) admitted to hospital there was a dominant spring peak and an autumn trough. A bimodal pattern of spring and winter peaks was evident for hospital admissions in older male age groups: with increasing age the spring peak diminished and the winter peak increased. In contrast, female hospital admissions showed a dominant winter/summer pattern of seasonal variation. In male and female CHD deaths seasonal variation showed a dominant pattern of winter peaks and summer troughs, with the winter peak spreading into spring in the two youngest male age groups. CHD incidence in women showed a winter/summer rhythm, but in men the spring peak was dominant up to the age of 55. Conclusions -The male, age related spring peak in CHD hospital admissions suggests there is an androgenic risk factor for myocardial infarction operating through an unknown effector mechanism. As age advances and reproduction becomes less important, the well defined winter/summer pattern of seasonal variation in CHD is superimposed, and shows a close relationship with the environment, especially temperature, or the autumn and early winter fall in temperature. (J Epidemiol Community Health 1995;49:575-582) Studies of seasonal variation in coronary heart disease (CHD) are almost entirely based on data derived from national registers of deaths. Studies based on seasonal variation of CHD hospital admissions are few. Dunnigan et all found a bimodal pattern of seasonal variation with spring and winter peaks in a study of 47 281 admissions to all Scottish hospitals in 1962-66 in the diagnostic category ICD 420

Temperature and Cardiovascular Mortality Associations in Four Southern Chinese Cities: A Time-Series Study Using a Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model

“…Females tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperatures than males because they may have a higher risk of high blood pressure and arrhythmia [8,18,30]. Furthermore, the relative risk of cold-related CVD mortality was higher for females than males, while men were more sensitive to extreme heat temperatures than women.…”

“…Previous studies indicate that older individuals and females are more sensitive to extreme temperatures than young individuals and males [8,18,30]. In addition, black men with low income, and those who spend significant time outdoors are more affected than white men and highly educated individuals [31].…”

“…Many studies have shown that extreme temperatures seriously impact CVD [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Both heat waves and cold snaps significantly increase CVD mortality [14,15].…”

The Variation of Seasonal Diseases in Family Medicine Depends on Infectious Diseases and these are Mainly Respiratory Diseases

“…Greater amounts of lipids in winter vs. summer [9] Alcohol intoxication and drinking Intoxication-related deaths peak during weekend and around festival days [10] Coronary heart disease and stroke New cases of coronary heart disease have maximum numbers in winter (January) and on Mondays and Fridays [11,12] Plasma fibrinogen concentrations showed the greatest seasonal change and were 23% higher in the coldest six months compared with summer months [13] Depression and Attempted Suicide A peak of depression in the late spring and autumn [14] Suicide attempt: higher prevalence in spring-summer [15][16][17] Weight (without medical intervention)…”

Seasonal Variation of Vitamin D in Ischemic Stroke

“…He proposed vitamin D as a protective factor by regulating serum cholesterol levels or by inhibiting Chlamydia pneumoniae, once thought to be a cause of coronary heart disease. Douglas et al 18 recognized that incidence and mortality rates from coronary heart disease demonstrated a strong seasonal pattern with higher rates in the winter, when vitamin D levels are lowest . Rostand 19 reported that with increasing distance from the equator the blood pressure increased and suggested that cutaneously synthesized vitamin D could be playing a role in the regulation of blood pressure.…”