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Cyclic stroke mortality variations follow sunspot patterns.
Stella Geronikolou1, Alexandros Leontitsis2, Vasilis Petropoulos3
1Clinical, Translational and Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece.
F1000Research
|January 14, 2021
Summary
Stroke deaths in Piraeus, Greece, fluctuated with sunspot activity, revealing a potential 6.8-day cycle. This finding could inform public health planning and chronotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology and environmental influences on health.
- Public health research in Mediterranean populations.
Background:
- Time-structure mapping is crucial for P4 medicine.
- Mediterranean populations, particularly in East-Mediterranean regions like Piraeus, have limited local evidence regarding time-structure influences on health.
- Genetic homogeneity and specific dietary patterns (low fat/sugar, high protein, fruits/vegetables, olive oil) characterized the Piraeus population before 1990.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sunspot activity and stroke-related mortality in a specific Mediterranean population.
- To identify potential non-anthropogenic cycles influencing public health events.
Main Methods:
- Censused stroke-related death events (D) in Piraeus from 1985-1989.
- Collected sunspot numbers (Wolf numbers, Rz) from 1944-2004.
- Analyzed data using Fast Fourier Analysis and Singular Spectrum Analysis in MATLAB.
Main Results:
- Stroke deaths (D) exhibited fluctuations greater than 35% correlated with sunspot numbers (Rz).
- A distinct, non-anthropogenic cycle of approximately 6.8 days was identified in relation to these fluctuations.
Conclusions:
- The identified 6.8-day cycle suggests a potential link between solar activity and stroke mortality.
- Findings warrant consideration for future public health planning and chronotherapy evaluations.
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