Seasonal variability of acute myocardial infarction in a Western Anatolian city and its relations to acute infections and climate.
OBJECTIVE
Some studies suggest that changes in climate may increase the rate of acute infections and also acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, regional, cultural and ethnical differences may cause changes in seasonal distribution of AMI. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations between AMI and acute upper respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and changes in climate in Turkish population.


METHODS
In this study, we included 1 312 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of AMI and 13 561 patients diagnosed with ARTI in our hospital. The changes of temperature and humidity of the city was obtained as average of the month. The data were matched statistically.


RESULTS
Patients with ARTI showed significant seasonal variability. Although the frequency of AMI was higher in winter than other seasons, it was not statistically significant. There is a linear correlation between ARTI and AMI, and also between humidity and the incidence of AMI, and an inverse correlation between air temperature and the rate of AMI in Usak city in Turkey.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that ARTI is associated with an increased risk of AMI and it is also true for Turkish population, but there is no significant seasonal variability of AMI in Turkish population. Furthermore, no significant correlations have been found between AMI and ARTI, air temperature and humidity in female patients. These results may be related to the fact that most of the women are housewives, not facing outside climate changes in Turkish population.
Biyik
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I
Department of Cardiology, Usak State Hospital, Usak, Turkey. ismailbiyikmd@yahoo.com
Canbaz
M A
MA
Ergene
O
O
D000208:Acute Disease; D002980:Climate; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population