Several diseases have well-defined circadian or seasonal patterns. For example, in the United States, about 50% more acute myocardial infarctions occur during the winter than during the summer, whereas no seasonal variation is found in warmer regions. We conducted a prospective study in 1366 consecutive patients with epistaxis (mean [±SD] age 53 ± 22 years) who were seen in the emergency department of the St. Anna Hospital, in Ferrara, Italy, from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1998. The total number of patients admitted each month, as well as the number of men, women, normotensive patients, and hypertensive patients were recorded, and rhythms analysis was performed by partial Fourier series. A significant annual rhythm, usually with a peak in January, was found in the total group of patients and in each subgroup (P<0.001 for all comparisons). There is no certain explanation for our findings. Dry air due to room heating could damage the prominent, thin-walled blood vessels responsible for epistaxis. In addition, the greater prevalence of upper respiratory infections during the winter is also likely to contribute to direct damage of the nasal mucosa.
Seasonal variation in the occurrence of epistaxis
MANFREDINI, Roberto;PORTALUPPI, Francesco
2000
Abstract
Several diseases have well-defined circadian or seasonal patterns. For example, in the United States, about 50% more acute myocardial infarctions occur during the winter than during the summer, whereas no seasonal variation is found in warmer regions. We conducted a prospective study in 1366 consecutive patients with epistaxis (mean [±SD] age 53 ± 22 years) who were seen in the emergency department of the St. Anna Hospital, in Ferrara, Italy, from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1998. The total number of patients admitted each month, as well as the number of men, women, normotensive patients, and hypertensive patients were recorded, and rhythms analysis was performed by partial Fourier series. A significant annual rhythm, usually with a peak in January, was found in the total group of patients and in each subgroup (P<0.001 for all comparisons). There is no certain explanation for our findings. Dry air due to room heating could damage the prominent, thin-walled blood vessels responsible for epistaxis. In addition, the greater prevalence of upper respiratory infections during the winter is also likely to contribute to direct damage of the nasal mucosa.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
