Relationship Between Ambient Temperature, Humidity And Sudden Cardiac Death In Northern Tunisia

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Feb 26, 2015
Download
pdf
Vol. 92 No. 11 (2014): Issue Nov 2014

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Ben Ahmed Habib
Allouche Mohamed
Zoghlami Bila
Hamdoun Moncef
Shimi Maha
Zoghlami Bilal
Gloulou Fatma
Shimi Maha
Razghallah Rabi
Gloulou Fatma
Baccar Hedi
Razghallah Rabii
Baccar Hedi
Hamdoun Moncef

Abstract

Background: Several studies have suggested a relationship between weather parameters and the occurrence of sudden cardiac death.

Aim: The aim of this work was to study the impact of changes in temperature and humidity level on the occurrence of sudden cardiac death in the north of Tunisia.

Methods: it‘s an autopsic study that included all victims of sudden cardiac death occurring in northern Tunisia between October 2010 and September 2012. The minimum, maximum and average of daily temperatures and humidity during the study period were recorded and compared with the monthly variation in the occurrence of sudden death.

Results: The study population included 392 men and 108 women with a mean age of 52.2 + / - 15.8 years.The highest rate of sudden death (37%) was observed at ambient temperatures below 15 degrees and only 4.2% of deaths occurred at temperatures above 30 degrees ambient temperatures (p <0.001). Among the population aged over 60 years, the highest mortality rate (47.3%) were recorded at temperatures below 15 degrees, while 35.5% of young patients under 40 years died during periods with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees and 56.8% of deaths occurred in the humidity levels between 60 and 78% .

Conclusion: In the north of Tunisia where the climate is temperate, a temperature drop below 15 degrees was significantly associated with a sudden cardiac death. This excess winter cardiac mortality was more pronounced in the elderly

Keywords:

Sudden cardiac death, temperature, humidity

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

References

  1. Fishman GI, Chugh S, DiMarco JP et al. Sudden cardiac death prediction and prevention report from a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Heart Rhythm Society workshop. Circulation. 2010;122:2335-48.
  2. Zipes DP, Wellens HJ. Sudden cardiac death. Circulation 1998;98:2334- 51.
  3. Rajat D, Christine M.A. Epidemiology and Genetics of Sudden Cardiac Death. Circulation .2012;125:620-37
  4. Kong MH, Fonarow GC, Peterson ED et al. Systematic review of the incidence of sudden cardiac death in the United States. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:794-801.
  5. Seidl K, Senges J. Worldwide utilization of implantable cardioverter/defibrillators now and in the future. Card Electrophysiol Rev 2003;7:5-13.
  6. P Dilaveris, A Synetos, G Giannopoulos, E Gialafos et al. CLimate Impacts on Myocardial infarction deaths in the Athens TErritory: the CLIMATE study .Heart 2006;92:1747-51
  7. Basu R. High ambient temperature and mortality :a review of epidemiologic studies from 2001 To 2008.Environmental Health 2009; 8:40.
  8. Basso C, Burke M, Fornes P et al. Guidelines for autopsy investigation of sudden cardiac death. Virchows Arch 2008;452:11-8.
  9. Cohle SD, Sampson BA. The negative autopsy: sudden cardiac death or other? Cardiovasc Pathol 2001;10:219-22.
  10. . Katz A, Biron A, Ovsyshcher E et al. Seasonal variation in sudden death in the Negev desert region of Israel. Isr Med Assoc J 2000;2:17-21.
  11. Gerber Y, Jacobsen SJ, Killian JM et al. Seasonality and daily weather conditions in relation to myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1979 to 2002. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006; 48:287-92
  12. Donaldson GC, Tchernjavskii VE, Ermakov SP et al. Winter mortality and cold stress in Yekaterinburg, Russia: interview survey. BMJ 1998; 316:514-8.
  13. Toro K, Bartholy J, Pongracz R et al. Evaluation of meteorological factors on sudden cardiovascular death. J Forensic Leg Med 2010;17:236-42.
  14. Diaz J, Garcia R, Lopez C et al. Mortality impact of extreme winter temperatures. Int J Biometeorol 2005;49:179-83
  15. Hajat S, Kovats RS, Lachowycz K. Heat-related and cold-related deaths in England and Wales: who is at risk? Occup Environ Med 2007;64:93-100.
  16. Mercer JB. Cold an underrated risk factor for health. Environ Res 2003;92:8-13.
  17. The Eurowinter Group .Cold exposure and winter mortality from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, and all causes in warm and cold regions of Europe. Lancet 1997;349:1341-6
  18. Kawahara J, Sano H, Fukuzaki H et al. Acute effects of exposure to cold on blood pressure, platelet function and sympathetic nervous activity in humans. Am J Hypertens 1989;2:724-6
  19. Vuori I. The heart and the cold. Ann Clin Res 1987;19:156-62
  20. Keatinge WR, Coleshaw SR, Cotter F et al. Increases in platelet and red cell counts, blood viscosity, and arterial pressure during mild surface cooling: factors in mortality from coronary and cerebral thrombosis in winter. Br Med J 1984;289:1405-8
  21. Cagle A, Hubbard R. Cold-related cardiac mortality in King County, Washington, USA 1980-2001. Ann Hum Biol 2005;32:525-37.