title: Temporal organization of cerebrovascular accidents: a retrospective, preliminary study about stroke in Ferrara, Italy.
abstract: An epidemiologic retrospective study was conducted from January 1984 to December 1988 on subjects admitted into the Institute of Semeiotica Medica of the University of Ferrara (as a general medicine, unselective department) and presenting a stroke. Year, month and hour of onset of symptoms in 141 patients (all resident in Ferrara, mean age 74.3 +/- 8.3 years) were carefully recorded. The definition of precise clock hour was reached only in 108 cases. The data were then analyzed by means of Halberg's single cosinor. Time series analysis showed a seasonal pattern of disease onset, characterized by a circannual rhythm with acrophase in late winter - early spring (-83.9 degrees). A significant circadian rhythm was found too, with acrophase at afternoon (-242.8 degrees).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Semeiotica Medica, University of Ferrara.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Squarzoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallerani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bariani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fersini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors