Biometeorological phases influence on stroke morbidity.

AIM

To determine influence of biometeorological phases on stroke incidence according to age and gender of patients, place of residence, days in a week, months in a year, type of stroke, additional diagnosis.

METHODS

Comparative analysis of the data on stroke patients (according to age, months, days, place of residence, age, sex, stroke type, additional diagnosis and number of hospitalization days) obtained by examining the records of discharge and admission of patients in the Department of Neurology of Kragujevac and everyday biometeorological phases obtained from the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMS of Serbia), for the following years: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in Kragujevac.

RESULTS

4,700 patients diagnosed with stroke were hospitalized in the observed period. The highest number of strokes was noted in 2003 (1,030), the lowest in 2008 (851). The highest number of strokes was in March (444) and the lowest in February (351).The most frequent days were Mondays (805), and the least frequent Sundays (495). Three fifths of patients were from urban areas and the rest of them were from rural areas. Out of this number 2,382 (50.7%) were males and 2.318 (49.3%) were females, of which 1.847 (77.6%) males and 1,894 (81.7%) females were over 70 years old. The average number of hospitalization days was 12.29 days, and most patients were in hospital for less than 10 days (2101 patients). 4,130 (87.9%) patients were diagnosed with thromboembolism, 422 (9.0%) with intracerebral hemorrhage and 148 (3.2%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage. As an additional diagnosis 1,946 (41.4%) patients had hypertension, 867(18.6%) had heart insufficiency and 15.40% had diabetes. Most strokes with significant correlation were in biometheorological phases 9 and 4 (1,227 and 1,010 strokes) and the least were in phase 10 (29). As a daily average, the highest number of strokes was in phase 8 (2.76/ day), the lowest in phase 2 (2.33/day).

CONCLUSIONS

Biometeorological phases have a great influence on stroke incidence, especially in phases with stable sunny weather and sudden impact of weather fronts, with sudden weather changes, with average incidence in the phase of foggy weather.