계절변화에 따른 허혈성 뇌졸중의 빈도와 중증도의 변화 = Seasonal variation of the severity and incidence in ischemic stroke

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background: The fact that the incidence of ischemic stroke is variable concerned with physiologic factor is well known. Recently some studies are performed which shows not only physiologic factor but also environmental or habitual factor such as temperature and diet is associated with attack of ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to exam ischemic stroke seasonality through the use of data from a hospital based stroke registry in our hospital for 3 years.
Methods: We analyzed SOONCHUNHYANG University hospital admission for ischemic stroke from March 2005 to February 2008 through the Korean stroke registry. We analyzed the trend of seasonal stroke attack rates and severity using NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) at admission. Also, the difference of stroke subtype, past medical history, abnormal laboratory finding at admission among the seasons are analyzed.
Results: Ischemic stroke attack rate was highest in summer but there is no significant difference in demographic characteristics. No seasonal variation in overall stroke occurrence was evident. No relationship with changes in weather parameters was observed.
Conclusions: We found no association between weather change and incidence and seventy of the ischemic stroke. A cause-and-effect relationship between weather and stroke is dubious because of a lack of consistency across studies.