Clinical cosmobiology: the Lithuanian study 1990-1992

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.