Does acute aortic dissection display seasonal variation?

The relation between cardiovascular diseases and the seasons is well known; however, only a few reports have addressed the seasonal aspects of acute aortic dissections. We investigated whether presentation of acute aortic dissection has monthly/seasonal variations.

From February 1985 to January 2006, 165 consecutive patients with aortic dissection admitted to our institution were reviewed. During this period, regional monthly atmospheric pressure data were supplied by the state's meteorological service. The mean and SD of atmospheric pressure data were analyzed statistically.

The frequency of acute aortic dissection was found to be significantly higher during winter versus other seasons (P = .041). A relatively high positive correlation was found between the incidence of acute aortic dissection and the mean atmospheric pressure (P = .037). The study confirmed monthly variation with a peak in January. In winter, the frequency of acute aortic dissection was higher in male than in female patients.

This study demonstrates that the occurrence of acute aortic dissection has significant seasonal/monthly variations. Thus, these observations may be a guide for prevention of acute aortic dissections by structuring treatment approaches with consideration given to the times of the year that patients are most vulnerable.