Abstract
Several studies have reported a seasonal variation in stroke incidence with a peak
during winter. In a hospital-based study, we investigated the distribution pattern
of stroke occurrence in general, as well as its subtypes throughout the year. We studied
the monthly and seasonal distribution of acute stroke occurrence among 1299 first
ever stroke patients admitted at our hospital and compared it with the assumed equal
distribution of stroke over the year (null hypothesis) using χ2 techniques. The seasonal distribution of the different stroke subtypes was also examined.
Overall stroke incidence shows a seasonal variation with a significant peak during
wintertime. Stroke etiology, cardioembolic stroke, and intracerebral hemorrhage are
also characterized from a similar seasonal fluctuation with a significant trough in
summer and peak in winter. On the contrary, cases of stroke caused by atherosclerotic
large vessel disease, small vessel disease, and stroke caused by unusual or undetermined
types show no seasonal periodicity. Seasonal variation of stroke seems to depend primarily
on the etiology of stroke. Further studies are necessary in order to clarify this
issue and provide useful evidence for stroke prevention and therapy. Copyright © 2003
by National Stroke Association
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 14,
2003
Received:
September 9,
2002
Footnotes
*Address reprint requests to Konstantinos Spengos, MD, Vasilissis Sofias Ave 82, 11528 Athens, Greece. E-mail: [email protected]
**1052-3057/03/1202-0001$30.00/0
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
