AIM:A drcannual variation in the onset of several acute diseases, mostly dealing with cardiovascular system,has been reported. The present study was to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the on...AIM:A drcannual variation in the onset of several acute diseases, mostly dealing with cardiovascular system,has been reported. The present study was to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the onset of acute pancreatitis. METHODS:All patients consecutively admitted to the Hospital of Ferrara,Italy,between January 1998 to December 2002, whose discharge diagnosis was acute pancreatitis,were considered.According to the time of admission,cases were categorized into twelve 1-mo intervals and in four periods by season.x^2 test for goodness of fit and partial Fourier series were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:During the study period,549 cases of acute pancreatitis were observed.A significant peak of higher incidence was found in March-May,both for total population, males and subgroups with and without cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Fourier analysis showed the existence of a circannual rhythmic pattern with its main peak in March(95% CL.:February-April,P=0.005),and a secondary one in September.Death occurred more frequently in December- February,compared to the other periods(P=0.029),and chronobiologic analysis yielded a seasonal peak in November- December(P<0.001). CONCLUSION:This study shows the existence of a circannual variation in the onset of acute pancreatitis,with a significantly higher frequency of events in the spring,especially for patients with cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Moreover,events occurring during the colder months seem to be characterized by a higher mortality rate.展开更多
基金Supported by a Research Grant"ex-60%" From the University of Ferrara
文摘AIM:A drcannual variation in the onset of several acute diseases, mostly dealing with cardiovascular system,has been reported. The present study was to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the onset of acute pancreatitis. METHODS:All patients consecutively admitted to the Hospital of Ferrara,Italy,between January 1998 to December 2002, whose discharge diagnosis was acute pancreatitis,were considered.According to the time of admission,cases were categorized into twelve 1-mo intervals and in four periods by season.x^2 test for goodness of fit and partial Fourier series were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:During the study period,549 cases of acute pancreatitis were observed.A significant peak of higher incidence was found in March-May,both for total population, males and subgroups with and without cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Fourier analysis showed the existence of a circannual rhythmic pattern with its main peak in March(95% CL.:February-April,P=0.005),and a secondary one in September.Death occurred more frequently in December- February,compared to the other periods(P=0.029),and chronobiologic analysis yielded a seasonal peak in November- December(P<0.001). CONCLUSION:This study shows the existence of a circannual variation in the onset of acute pancreatitis,with a significantly higher frequency of events in the spring,especially for patients with cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Moreover,events occurring during the colder months seem to be characterized by a higher mortality rate.
