The relationship between ischemic stroke and weather conditions in Duzce, Turkey

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2015.03.008

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Weather conditions are thought to increase the risk of stroke occurrence. But their mechanism has not yet been clarified. We investigated possible relationships between ischemic stroke and weather conditions including atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed.
METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with ischemic stroke who had been admitted to our hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2010 were enrolled in this study. We investigated the relationship between daily cases and weather conditions the same day or 1, 2, and 3 days before stroke.
RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between maximum wind speed and daily cases 3 days before stroke. As the relationship between daily cases and changes of weather conditions in consecutive days was evaluated, a negative correlation was found between daily cases and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours.
CONCLUSIONS: The maximum wind speed 3 days before stroke and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours were found to increase the cases of ischemic stroke. We recommend that individuals at risk of ischemic stroke should pay more attention to preventive measures, especially on days with low maximum wind speed, on subsequent 3 days, and on days with low atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours.

Key words: Weather conditions, Ischemic stroke, Turkey

Harun Gunes, Hayati Kandis, Ayhan Saritas, Suber Dikici, Ramazan Buyukkaya. The relationship between ischemic stroke and weather conditions in Duzce, Turkey[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2015, 6(3): 207-211.

Figures/Tables 5

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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Variables	Mean±standard deviation	Minimum	Maximum
Age (years)
All patients	72±10	38	94
Male patients	70±10	47	87
Female patients	74±10	38	94
Hospitalization period (days )	10±14	0	119
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	157±32	90	290
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	88±20	49	160
Mean arterial pressure (mmHg)	111±22	63	190
Pulse rate (beats/minute)	87±21	50	170
White blood cell count (/μL)	9 133±3 971	1 160	26 900
Hemoglobin (mg/dL)	12.9±1.7	7.2	19.0
Hematocrit (%)	38±5	25	55
Platelet count (/μL)	247 559±80 288	92 600	583 000
Glucose (mg/dL)	148±54	75	342
Urea (mg/dL)	47±25	19	172
Creatinine (mg/dL)	1.08±0.78	0.40	8.29
Na⁺ (mEq/L)	138±4	124	166
K⁺ (mEq/L)	4.2±0.6	2.6	7.0
Cl^- (mEq/L)	103±5	87	138

Time of the event	Mean±standard deviation				P value
Time of the event	0 patient	1 patient	2 patients	3 patients	P value
The event day
Mean pressure (mbar)	997.2±5.8	996.5±5.0	995.2±4.3	995.3±4.8	NS^*
Mean temperature (°C)	15.2±7.4	15.7±7.7	14.8±7.0	15.1±3.0	NS^*
Mean relative humidity (%)	76.7±13.2	75.7±14.9	80.4±11.0	73.1±11.2	NS^*
Maximum wind speed (m/s)	6.2±2.5	6.0±2.2	5.6±2.2	7.0±3.3	NS^*
One day before the event
Mean pressure (mbar)	996.7±5.7	997.5±5.3	996.2±4.4	998.9±3.9	NS^*
Mean temperature (°C)	15.4±7.2	15.4±8.2	15.3±6.6	14.5±2.5	NS^*
Mean relative humidity (%)	76.7±13.2	76.1±14.6	77.8±12.7	71.7±14.4	NS^*
Maximum wind speed (m/s)	6.3±2.5	6.0±2.2	5.6±2.2	4.6±1.4	NS^*
Two days before the event
Mean pressure (mbar)	996.8±5.5	996.9±5.6	995.6±5.4	1 000.6±6.3	NS^*
Mean temperature (°C)	15.4±7.4	15.4±7.6	15.0±7.4	12.9±4.4	NS^*
Mean relative humidity (%)	76.5±13.5	76.1±13.9	78.1±12.3	75.2±16.3	NS^*
Maximum wind speed (m/s)	6.3±2.4	6.0±2.5	5.6±2.2	5.8±1.5	NS^*
Three days before the event
Mean pressure (mbar)	996.9±5.7	996.7±4.9	995.7±5.1	999.0±8.7	NS^*
Mean temperature (°C)	15.6±7.3	15.3±7.5	13.8±8.3	13.1±4.4	NS^*
Mean relative humidity (%)	75.9±13.1	76.7±15.0	85.0±9.7	74.3±10.8	NS^*
Maximum wind speed (m/s)	6.4±2.5	6.0±2.2	4.7±1.9	5.0±1.2	0.048

Time points	Mean±standard deviation				P value
Time points	0 patient	1 patient	2 patients	3 patients	P value
0-24 hours
Pressure change (mbar)	6.7±5.5	4.9±4.8	4.8±4.3	2.8±2.9	0.019
Temperature change (°C)	10.0±5.7	10.6±5.4	8.9±4.4	14.5±6.2	NS^*
Relative humidity change (%)	45.2±18.1	43.8±18.0	45.8±18.0	59.4±20.6	NS^*
24-48 hours
Pressure change (mbar)	6.3±5.3	6.2±6.0	4.8±3.1	5.5±4.3	NS^*
Temperature change (°C)	10.1±5.5	10.4±5.9	10.3±4.8	15.0±6.4	NS^*
Relative humidity change (%)	45.4±18.3	44.0±17.7	46.5±14.2	49.6±25.1	NS^*
48-72 hours
Pressure change (mbar)	6.0±5.3	6.7±5.4	5.7±4.6	7.3±9.0	NS^*
Temperature change (°C)	10.1±5.7	10.3±5.4	11.4±4.4	11.7±8.8	NS^*
Relative humidity change (%)	45.9±17.8	44.4±18.7	37.4±16.1	53.0±17.0	NS^*
72-96 hours
Pressure change (mbar)	5.9±5.3	7.2±5.7	4.8±4.5	6.1±4.4	NS^*
Temperature change (°C)	10.5±5.6	9.6±5.8	9.7±4.0	11.9±6.3	NS^*
Relative humidity change (%)	45.8±18.1	44.1±17.5	42.8±17.2	53.4±22.9	NS^*

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