title: Seasonal variation of the abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture in southwestern Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the hypothesis of seasonal variation in the rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm in our region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm admitted between 1991-1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  The month of admission was registered.
  
  
  METHODS
  The seasonal variation in the abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of ruptures (78%) occurred during the months October and April, a phenomenon proven to be periodical (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture clearly showed seasonal variation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kakkos
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tsolakis
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Katsafados
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Androulakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012621:Seasons