Possible Associations between Space Weather and the Incidence of Stroke

Jone Vencloviene,Lolita Sileikiene,Daiva Rastenyte,Ricardas Radisauskas,Dalia Luksiene,Egle Milinaviciene,Abdonas Tamosiunas

doi:10.3390/atmos12030334

Jone Vencloviene, Lolita Sileikiene + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030334

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aim of our study was to detect the possible association between daily numbers of ischemic strokes (ISs) and hemorrhagic strokes (HSs) and space weather events. The daily numbers of ISs, subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs), and intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) were obtained from Kaunas Stroke Register during the period of 1986 to 2010. We used time- and season-stratified multivariate Poisson regression. We analyzed data of 597 patients with SAH, 1147 patients with ICH, and 7482 patients with IS. Strong/severe geomagnetic storms (GSs) were associated with an increase in the risk of SAH (by 58%) and HS (by 30%). Only GSs occurring during 6:00–12:00 UT were associated with the risk of IS. Low geomagnetic activity (GMA) was associated with the risk of ICH, HS, and IS (Rate Ratios with 95% CI were 2.51 (1.50–4.21), 2.33 (1.50–3.61), and 1.36 (1.03–1.81), respectively). The days of ≥ X9 class solar flare (SF) were associated with a 39% higher risk of IS. The risk of HS occurrence was greater than two times higher on the day after the maximum of a strong/severe solar proton event (SPE). These results showed that GSs, very low GMA, and stronger SFs and SPEs may be associated with an increased risk of different subtypes of stroke.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilNumerous studies have reported that geomagnetic activity (GMA) affects humans—especially their cardiovascular system [1,2,3,4,5]
The days of ≥X9 class solar flare or the day after if this flare occurred in the afternoon were associated with a 39% increase in the risk of ischemic strokes (ISs), adjusting for the GMA level
0.015 adjusted for month, the day of the week, and weather variables; * adjusted for low GMA (Ap = 0); ** the days of ≥X9 class solar flare or the day after if this flare occurred in the afternoon

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilNumerous studies have reported that geomagnetic activity (GMA) affects humans—especially their cardiovascular system [1,2,3,4,5]. It has been indicated that low GMA was associated with an increase in electrical heart instability [11,12]. These effects of GMA have been explained by the effects of the magnetic field on ions and protons in the human body [2,13,14,15]. The impacts of GMA, especially the impact of geomagnetic storms (GSs) on the risk of myocardial infarction have been discussed during the past 50 years [1,2,5,16]. An increase in the daily rate of strokes during moderate and strong GSs [18,19,22] has been observed

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion