Related Experiment Videos
Seasonal pattern of spontaneous cervical artery dissection
W I Schievink1, E F Wijdicks, J D Kuiper
1Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Spontaneous cervical artery dissection shows a seasonal pattern, peaking in October. This suggests environmental factors like weather or infections may influence dissection risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The causes of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (SCAD) are not fully understood.
- Genetic and environmental factors are suspected contributors to SCAD.
- Investigating SCAD seasonality may reveal etiological insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a seasonal pattern exists for spontaneous cervical artery dissection.
- To analyze the temporal occurrence of SCAD events.
- To identify potential peaks in SCAD incidence throughout the year.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 200 consecutive spontaneous cervical artery dissection patients (1970-1990).
- Utilized the Rayleigh test to assess circannual periodicity.
- Focused on patients from the midwestern United States with significant climate variations.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant seasonal pattern (circannual periodicity) was identified for SCAD.
- The frequency of spontaneous cervical artery dissections peaked in October (p < 0.02).
- Autumn showed approximately 58% higher SCAD incidence compared to other seasons.
Conclusions:
- A distinct seasonal pattern exists for spontaneous cervical artery dissection.
- The peak incidence of SCAD occurs in October.
- Further research into weather or infectious disease patterns may elucidate SCAD etiology.
Object:
The etiology of spontaneous cervical artery dissection is poorly understood; however, it may involve genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether seasonality of spontaneous cervical artery dissection exists.
Methods:
The seasonal pattern of spontaneous cervical artery dissection was analyzed in a group of 200 consecutive patients (104 females and 96 males with a mean age of 44.9 years) who were evaluated using the Rayleigh test during the period from 1970 to 1990. The majority of patients resided in the midwestern section of the United States, where large seasonal fluctuations in climate occur. A circannual periodicity was found in the frequency of spontaneous cervical artery dissections with a peak occurring in October (p < 0.02). The seasonal variation was substantial, with approximately 58% more patients suffering a cervical artery dissection during autumn than during other seasons.
Conclusions:
A seasonal pattern of spontaneous cervical artery dissection exists with a peak occurring in October. The cause of the seasonality remains to be explained; however, weather- or infectious disease-related factors may provide etiological leads.