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Relationship of meteorological factors and acute stroke events in Kaunas (Lithuania) in 2000–2010

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Abstract

Some researchers have hypothesised that meteorological factors may have an impact on acute cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine an impact of some meteorological factors on occurrence of acute cerebrovascular events in the middle-aged Kaunas population. Kaunas stroke register data were used. Data on meteorological factors for the time period from 2000 to 2010 were obtained from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service Kaunas Meteorological Station. We analysed 4038 cases with stroke. Ischemic strokes composed 80.4% and haemorrhagic strokes—19.6%. According to Poisson regression analysis, significant negative correlation between ischemic, haemorrhagic and all types of stroke and ambient air temperature was found (β coefficient − 0.007, −0.016, −0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). Results of ARIMA showed that ambient temperature of the day of stroke onset was associated with the occurrence of ischemic, haemorrhagic and all types of stroke: when temperature was lower, the risk of stroke was higher (−0.006, −0.003, −0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). Low temperature on the event day and 1 and 2 days before the event was associated with higher incidence of haemorrhagic stroke in women. Low ambient temperature on the event day increased incidence of haemorrhagic stroke in subjects 55–64 years. High wind speed on the event day was associated with higher incidence of ischemic stroke in older subjects. Meteorological factors may have some impact on the risk of acute cerebrovascular events. Health care providers should focus on preventive measures, which can reduce these risks.

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Acknowledgements

Authors express their gratitude to Dr. R. Rauleckas from Kaunas Technology University for his help with statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology and Allergology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu Str. 2, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Laura Tamasauskiene

  2. Department of Neurology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu Str. 2, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Daiva Rastenyte

  3. Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu Av. 15, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Ricardas Radisauskas, Abdonas Tamosiunas, Daina Kranciukaite-Butylkiniene & Egle Milinaviciene

  4. Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Ricardas Radisauskas & Vidmantas Vaiciulis

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu Str. 2, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Domantas Tamasauskas

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  1. Laura Tamasauskiene
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  5. Domantas Tamasauskas
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Correspondence to Laura Tamasauskiene.

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Tamasauskiene, L., Rastenyte, D., Radisauskas, R. et al. Relationship of meteorological factors and acute stroke events in Kaunas (Lithuania) in 2000–2010. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 9286–9293 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8590-8

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