Atmospheric pressure variations and abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.
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.
Killeen
S D
SD
Department of Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. sdfklleen@eircom.net
O'Sullivan
M J
MJ
Coffey
J C
JC
Redmond
H P
HP
Fulton
G J
GJ
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