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Does the circadian pattern for acute cardiac events presentation vary with fasting?
J Al Suwaidi1, A Bener, A A Gehani
1Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Doha, Qatar. jha01@hmc.org.qa
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
|March 15, 2006
Summary
Ramadan fasting affects the timing of acute cardiac events. Changes in food and sleep patterns during fasting significantly alter the circadian rhythm, influencing when heart problems occur.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Chronobiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Over one billion Muslims observe Ramadan fasting globally.
- The effect of Ramadan fasting on the circadian presentation of acute cardiac events remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential influence of Ramadan fasting on the timing of acute cardiac events.
- To determine if fasting alters the circadian patterns of cardiovascular events.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted in a general hospital setting.
- Patients with acute coronary events were categorized based on their fasting status.
- Statistical analyses, including Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and chi2 analysis, were used to evaluate symptom presentation times.
Main Results:
- Out of 1019 patients, 162 were fasting during the study period.
- While some non-significant trends in emergency department presentation times were observed, fasting patients showed statistically significant differences in the timing of initial cardiac symptoms (P=0.002).
- Specifically, fasting patients were less likely to experience symptom onset between 5-8 AM and more likely between 5-6 PM or 3-4 AM.
Conclusions:
- Fasting during Ramadan, through alterations in food intake and sleep schedules, impacts the body's circadian rhythm.
- These circadian rhythm modifications influence the timing of acute coronary event symptom presentation.
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