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Clinical cosmobiology: the Lithuanian study 1990-1992
E Stoupel1, J Petrauskiene, R Kalediene
1Toor Heart Institute, Epidemiology Unit, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Insights
Environmental factors like solar and geomagnetic activity influence monthly deaths from ischemic heart disease and suicide in Lithuania. These correlations vary by age and gender, suggesting complex biological responses.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Biometeorology
Background:
- Monthly mortality data from Lithuania (1990-1992) for ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke (CVA), accidents, and suicide were analyzed.
- A total of 122,227 deaths (64,490 men, 57,737 women) were studied.
- Data were compared with an earlier study conducted in Israel.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between monthly death distributions and environmental factors.
- To examine correlations with the time of year, solar activity, and geomagnetic activity.
- To identify age and gender-specific differences in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Time-series analysis of monthly mortality data over 36 months.
- Correlation analysis with solar and geomagnetic activity indices.
- Stratified analysis by age group and gender.
Main Results:
- Significant relationships were found between the time of year, solar activity, geomagnetic activity, and monthly death distributions.
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and suicide deaths showed particular sensitivity to these environmental factors.
- Adverse correlations were observed between monthly IHD and suicide deaths and solar activity, and between IHD and suicide deaths themselves.
- Age and gender modulated these environmental-mortality relationships, with significant changes noted in individuals over 70 years old.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, including solar and geomagnetic activity, significantly impact monthly mortality patterns in Lithuania, especially for IHD and suicide.
- Age and gender are critical factors influencing the response to environmental changes.
- Presumed differences in serotoninergic pathways may mediate the observed effects of environmental influences on mortality.
Abstract:
The numbers of deaths from ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke (CVA), all accidents except vehicular, vehicular accidents and suicide (overall total, totals for men and women) per month for 36 months (1990-1992) in Lithuania were analysed in relation to: (1) month of the year (1-12); (2) geomagnetic activity; and (3) solar activity. A total of 122227 deaths (64490 men and 57737 women) was studied, and the results compared with those obtained in an earlier study in Israel, differing geographically and climatically from Lithuania. It was shown that the time of year, solar activity, and geomagnetic activity were related to the monthly death distribution, especially regarding death from IHD and suicide. Age and gender differences were apparent in the relationship between death distribution and physical environmental factors. At age > 70 years, many of these relationships change. The monthly distribution of deaths from IHD and suicide are adversely correlated with solar activity and with each other. Differences are presumed in serotoninergic effects as caused by environmental influences.