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Published in: BMC Surgery 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research article

Is there a relationship between weather conditions and aortic dissection?

Authors: Costa Repanos, Neil K Chadha

Published in: BMC Surgery | Issue 1/2005

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Abstract

Background

Bleeding and rupture of blood vessels has been correlated with weather conditions in the past. This is the first study in the world literature with the aim of investigating the relationship between atmospheric pressure and temperature with the presentation of aortic dissection.

Methods

The dates of all emergency aortic dissection repairs from 1996–2002 in a regional cardiothoracic unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital were obtained. Hourly temperature and pressure data from a regional weather station for this time period was supplied by the Meteorological Office. The mean and standard deviation of hourly temperature and pressure data for that month were compared to the mean and standard deviation of the data 24 and 48 hours prior to the aortic dissection.

Results

26 patients were found to have been operated on during the time period studied. There was no statistically significant correlation between temperature or atmospheric pressure readings, and the incidence of aortic dissection, using a Bonferonni-corrected significance p-value of 0.005

Conclusion

This study is the first to examine the relationship between atmospheric pressure, temperature and dissecting thoracic aorta. No statistically significant relationship was demonstrable.
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Metadata
Title
Is there a relationship between weather conditions and aortic dissection?
Authors
Costa Repanos
Neil K Chadha
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Surgery / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2482
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2482-5-21

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