title: Effects of Meteorological Variables on the Incidence of Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms in Central New Jersey.
abstract: IntroductionPrevious studies have suggested relationships between the rupture of intracranial aneurysms and meteorological variables such as season, barometric pressure, and temperature. Our objective was to examine the relationship between the incidence of hospital admissions secondary to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and meteorological variables in central New Jersey.MethodsThe study population consisted of 312 patients who presented to University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2008, with aSAH. Days in the 6-year period were classified as nonbleed days (no aSAH), bleed days (one or more aSAHs within 1 calendar day), cluster days (two or more aSAHs within 2 calendar days), and multiple-bleed days (two or more aSAHs within 1 calendar day).ResultsThe only significant meteorological risk factor for the occurrence of multiple-bleed days was high barometric pressure (1018.5 versus 1016.5 millibars [mbars];p <0.04), but an increase in barometric pressure (+ 2.8 mbars) over the 2 days prior to the multiple-bleed day, although not statistically significant, may be a risk factor (p <0.09). Barometric pressure was also noted to be increased on bleed days (1017.2 versus 1016.5 mbars) and cluster days (1017.7 versus 1016.5 mbars), but this relationship was not significant (p <0.1 andp <0.1, respectively). Although aSAH days demonstrated consistently lower temperatures than non-aSAH days and dropping temperatures were consistently found in the days preceding the aSAH, these relationships were not significant.ConclusionAmong meteorological factors, high barometric pressure and low temperature may be risk factors for the onset of aSAH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States.
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kellogg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
authors.forename: Dimitriy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States.
authors.forename: Nitesh V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
authors.forename: David Richard
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hansberry
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
authors.forename: Prateek
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brimacombe
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States.
authors.forename: Chirag D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prestigiacomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D012307:Risk Factors; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012621:Seasons; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013696:Temperature; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult