Average Temperature, Diurnal Temperature Variation, and Stroke Hospitalizations

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Climatology

Background:

• Inconsistent findings exist regarding meteorological factors and stroke incidence.
• This study investigates the link between temperature variations and ischemic stroke hospitalizations in the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association of average temperature and diurnal temperature variation with ischemic stroke hospitalizations.
• To analyze these associations across different age groups, seasons, and regions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2009-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample for adults aged 18+.
• Linked hospitalization data with county-level monthly average temperatures.
• Employed logistic regression, adjusting for patient characteristics and dew point, stratified by age, season, and region.

Main Results:

• Increased average temperature correlated with decreased stroke hospitalization odds in some regions and seasons.
• Increased diurnal temperature variation was linked to higher odds of stroke hospitalization across most regions and seasons.
• The strongest associations for diurnal temperature variation were observed in the Northeast during spring.

Conclusions:

• Lower average temperatures and greater diurnal temperature variations are associated with stroke hospitalizations.
• Associations were most pronounced in the Northeast and consistent across seasons and age groups.
• Further research into underlying mechanisms may inform targeted prevention strategies for extreme weather conditions.