[Study on periodic changes in onset of aortic dissection].

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Medical Statistics

Background:

• Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the temporal patterns of AAD onset may provide insights into its pathophysiology and potential preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the periodic changes and temporal patterns in the onset of acute aortic dissection.
• To analyze onset regularities based on time of day, weekday, month, and season.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 1,121 patients with AAD treated between 2010 and 2016.
• Statistical analysis of disease onset timing across different diurnal periods, weekdays, months, and seasons.

Main Results:

• The peak onset period for AAD was in the afternoon (13:00-18:00), with lower frequency in the early morning (1:00-6:00).
• Monday showed the highest incidence of AAD onset, while Friday had the lowest.
• January and winter months exhibited a higher frequency of AAD onset compared to July and summer.
• No significant differences in onset patterns were observed across age groups (≥65 vs <65), or in patients with or without hypertension or Marfan syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Acute aortic dissection exhibits significant periodic changes in onset, with a predilection for the afternoon and winter.
• These findings suggest that environmental and physiological factors may influence the timing of AAD events.
• Further research into circadian and seasonal influences could inform proactive management and prevention of aortic dissection.