title: Atmospheric pressure variations and abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) presents with increased frequency in the winter and spring months. Seasonal changes in atmospheric pressure mirrors this pattern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish if there was a seasonal variation in the occurrence of RAAA and to determine if there was any association with atmospheric pressure changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort-based study was performed. Daily atmospheric pressure readings for the region were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant monthly variation in RAAA presentation with 107 cases (52.5%) occurring from November to March. The monthly number of RAAA and the mean atmospheric pressure in the previous month were inversely related (r = -0.752, r (2) = 0.566, P = 0.03), and there was significantly greater daily atmospheric pressure variability on days when patients with RAAA were admitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a relationship between atmospheric pressure and RAAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. sdfklleen@eircom.net
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Killeen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fulton
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons