Temporal Patterns of Hospital Admissions for Transient Ischemic Attack: A Retrospective Population-based Study in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy

Abstract

Acute cerebrovascular events are not randomly distributed over time but show specific temporal patterns of occurrence. However, most studies focused stroke and little is known about transient ischemic attack. This study aimed to explore the existence of a temporal pattern of transient ischemic attack and the possible influence by the most common risk factors. The analysis included all hospital admissions with the ICD9-CM code for TIA, recorded in the database of the Emilia Romagna region of Italy (1998-2006; n = 43642, mean age 76.8 +/- 11.5 years, 45.5% males). Transient ischemic attack was most frequent in autumn and winter and less common in spring and summer (P < 0.0001), with the highest number of cases in October and the lowest in February, and also most frequent on Monday (P < 0.0001). This study shows a seasonal and weekly pattern in occurrence of transient ischemic attack, independent of sex and the presence of the most common risk factors.

Seasonal and Weekly Patterns of Occurrence of Acute Cardiovascular Diseases: Does a Gender Difference Exist?

“…We analyzed cumulative data of previous studies from our group dealing with temporal variation of hospital admission for CV events, including AMI, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), aortic diseases (AD), and PE, [16][17][18][19][20][21] in the region Emilia Romagna (RER) of Italy, according to the regional database maintained by the Center for Health Statistics.…”

Chronobiology in Aortic Diseases – “Is This Really a Random Phenomenon?”

“…80,81 Stroke The same winter and autumn peak is seen for stroke 82,83 and transient ischemic attack. 84 Interestingly, the complications of acute carotid surgery exhibit a similar pattern. 85 …”

Diurnal variation in acute thrombotic cardiovascular events

“…Manfredini et al (28) reported that TIA was most frequent on Monday. Spielberg et al (29) reported the highest MI occurrence was on Mondays and the lowest on Saturdays; data for both days were statistically significant.…”

“…Manfredini et al (28) reported that TIA was most frequent in autumn and winter and less common in spring and summer, with the highest number of cases in October and the lowest in February. In another study Manfredini et al (30) reported acute MI was most frequent in winter and least in summer.…”