Annales de médecine interne
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Ann Med Interne (Paris) · Dec 2003
Comparative Study[Meteorologic conditions and esophageal varices rupture].
While meteorologic conditions are thought to be related to the incidence of certain cardiac and cerebrovascular events, very little information is available concerning the onset of variceal bleeding. We undertook this study to determine whether there is any correlation between esophageal variceal hemorrhage and several meteorologic and astronomic parameters. ⋯ No relationship was found between variceal bleeding and mean atmospheric pressure, daily hours of sunshine, nebulosity, direction and velocity of wind and mean humidity. On the contrary, a significant correlation was observed with the mean temperature (18 degrees C vs 21.16 degrees C; p=0003), rainfall (p<0.01) and stormy weather (p=0.008), the latter being the only parameter retained as an independent factor at multivariate analysis: OR=13.37 (95% CI=1.5-118.5). Furthermore, a negative correlation was found with full moon but only at univariate analysis (p=0.04). The seasonal distribution of variceal bleeding episodes showed the highest percentage during winter with a significant variation at multivariate analysis: OR=3.2 (95% IC=1.6-6.54). Occurrence of variceal bleeding also showed a circadian variation with the higher prevalence night between 6 and 0 PM (p<0.001).