Abstract
Prior research has suggested that regional weather patterns impact the risk of rupture of cerebral aneurysms, but the findings in the literature have been inconsistent. Furthermore, no nationwide analysis to date has examined the association between meteorological factors and the post-procedural outcomes of patients after the treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to use a nationwide sample to analyze the association between specific meteorological parameters—temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and humidity—and hospital admission rate for and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2001–2010): Those with an ICD-9 diagnosis code for subarachnoid hemorrhage and a procedural code for aneurysm repair were included. Climate data were obtained from the State of the Climate Report 2010 released by the National Climatic Data Center. Multivariate regression models were constructed to analyze the association between average state monthly temperature, precipitation, and percent possible sunlight, as well as relative morning humidity and both monthly hospital admission rate, adjusted for annual state population in millions, and in-hospital mortality. 16,970 admissions were included from 723 hospitals across 41 states. Decreased daily sunlight and lower relative humidity were associated with an increased rate of admission for ruptured cerebral aneurysms (p<0.001), but had no association with differential inpatient mortality. No significant changes in these observed associations were seen when multivariate analyses were constructed. This is the first nationwide study to suggest that decreased sunlight and lower relative humidity are associated with admission for ruptured cerebral aneurysms. While it has been postulated that external atmospheric factors may cause hormonal and homeostatic changes that impact the risk of rupture of cerebral aneurysms, additional research is needed to confirm and further understand these relationships.
Highlights
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is believed to be a largely unpredictable, spontaneous event
Several studies have suggested that hospital admission for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with variations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and the lunar cycle [3,4,5]
Patients were included if they had a diagnosis code for subarachnoid hemorrhage (ICD-9-CM 430) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICD-9-CM 431) and at least one procedural code for aneurysm repair, by ‘‘clipping of aneurysm’’ (ICD-9-CM 39.51), ‘‘endovascular repair or occlusion’’ (ICD-9-CM 39.72), or ‘‘other repair of aneurysm’’ (ICD-9-CM 39.79)
Summary
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is believed to be a largely unpredictable, spontaneous event. The formation and rupture of cerebral aneurysms has been shown to be associated with multiple factors, including the characteristics of the aneurysm, the age of the patient, blood pressure, and changes in body temperature [1,2]. Regional weather patterns and seasonal changes have been hypothesized to impact the risk of rupture of cerebral aneurysms. Several studies have suggested that hospital admission for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with variations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and the lunar cycle [3,4,5]. Associations between meteorological parameters and cerebral aneurysm rupture have been observed to vary by sex [6,7]. The findings in the literature have been inconsistent: other studies have suggested that subarachnoid hemorrhage does not vary with season or temperature [8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
