A seasonal variation in the incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
To discover whether there is a seasonal variation in the incidence of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms.


METHODS
Deaths per month due to rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm were analysed retrospectively using a cosinor regression model.


METHODS
England and Wales.


METHODS
19,599 patients who died from rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm between January 1991 and December 1995 according to death certification data.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
A seasonal variation in the incidence of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs, with a peak in winter (p = 0.003). The ratio of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm in males and females decreased from more than 12 to 1 below age 60 years to less than 5 to 1 over age 80 years.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a seasonal variation in the incidence of recorded deaths from abdominal aortic aneurysm in England and Wales, with a peak of deaths in the cold winter months. The underlying cause is unknown, but hypertension and tobacco smoking are predisposing factors to aortic aneurysm rupture. Exposure to tobacco smoke is known to be greater indoors in cold weather and there is a winter peak of blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Ballaro
A
A
University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, U.K.
Cortina-Borja
M
M
Collin
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D003644:Death Certificates; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution