title: The impact of World and European Football Cups on stroke in the population of Dijon, France: a longitudinal study from 1986 to 2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute stress may trigger vascular events. We aimed to investigate whether important football competitions involving the French football team increased the occurrence of stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively retrieved data of fatal and nonfatal stroke during 4 World Football Cups (1986, 1998, 2002, and 2006) and 4 European Championships (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004), based on data from the population-based Stroke Registry of Dijon, France. One period of exposure was analyzed: the period of competition extended to 15 days before and after the competitions. The number of strokes was compared between exposed and unexposed corresponding periods of preceding and following years using Poisson regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 175 strokes were observed during the exposed periods compared with 192 and 217 strokes in the unexposed preceding and following periods. Multivariate regression analyses showed an overall 30% significant decrease in stroke numbers between periods of competition and unexposed periods of following year (risk ratio (RR) = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-1.6; P = .029) but not with that of preceding year (RR = 1.1; 95% CI = .9-1.3; P = .367). This was mostly explained by a 40% decrease in stroke numbers during European Championships, compared with the unexposed following periods (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.0-1.9; P = .044) in stratified analyses by football competitions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Watching European football competitions had a positive impact in the city of Dijon with a decrease of stroke numbers. European championship is possibly associated with higher television audience and long-lasting euphoria although other factors may be involved. Further studies using nationwide data are recommended to validate these findings.
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Corine
authors: C
authors: Aboa-Eboulé
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France. Electronic address: ybejot@yahoo.fr.
authors: Yannick
authors: Y
authors: Béjot
authors: CHRU Dijon, Service de Biostatistique et d'Informatique Médicale, Dijon, France.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Cottenet
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Mehni
authors: M
authors: Khellaf
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Agnès
authors: A
authors: Jacquin
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Jérôme
authors: J
authors: Durier
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Rouaud
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Hervieu-Begue
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Guy-Victor
authors: GV
authors: Osseby
authors: Dijon Stroke Registry, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Dijon, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors: Maurice
authors: M
authors: Giroud
authors: CHRU Dijon, Service de Biostatistique et d'Informatique Médicale, Dijon, France; INSERM, U866, Univ de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Quantin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005059:Euphoria; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013690:Television; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Stroke; epidemiology; football; registry; risk factors; soccer; trigger