Showing papers by "Jone Vencloviene published in 2021"

Association between stroke occurrence and changes in atmospheric circulation.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The impact of weather on morbidity from stroke has been analysed in previous studies. As the risk of stroke was mostly associated with changing weather, the changes in the daily stroke occurrence may be associated with changes in atmospheric circulation. The aim of our study was to detect and evaluate the association between daily numbers of ischaemic strokes (ISs) and haemorrhagic strokes (HSs) and the teleconnection pattern. METHODS The study was performed in Kaunas, Lithuania, from 2000 to 2010. The daily numbers of ISs, subarachnoid haemorrhages (SAHs), and intracerebral haemorrhages (ICHs) were obtained from the Kaunas Stroke Register. We evaluated the association between these types of stroke and the teleconnection pattern by applying Poisson regression and adjusting for the linear trend, month, and other weather variables. RESULTS During the study period, we analysed 4038 cases (2226 men and 1812 women) of stroke. Of these, 3245 (80.4%) cases were ISs, 533 (13.2%) cases were ICHs, and 260 (6.4%) cases were SAHs. An increased risk of SAH was associated with a change in mean daily atmospheric pressure over 3.9 hPa (RR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.14-1.96), and a stronger El Nino event had a protective effect against SAHs (RR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.69). The risk of HS was positively associated with East Atlantic/West Russia indices (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23). The risk of IS was negatively associated with the Arctic Oscillation index on the same day and on the previous day (RR = 0.97, p < 0.033). During November-March, the risk of HS was associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) (RR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.62), and the risk of IS was negatively associated with the NAO index (RR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.99). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study provide new evidence that the North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, East Atlantic/West Russia, and El Nino-Southern Oscillation pattern may affect the risk of stroke. The impact of these teleconnections is not identical for various types of stroke. Emergency services should be aware that specific weather conditions are more likely to prompt calls for more severe strokes.

Possible Associations between Space Weather and the Incidence of Stroke

Abstract: The aim of our study was to detect the possible association between daily numbers of ischemic strokes (ISs) and hemorrhagic strokes (HSs) and space weather events. The daily numbers of ISs, subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs), and intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) were obtained from Kaunas Stroke Register during the period of 1986 to 2010. We used time- and season-stratified multivariate Poisson regression. We analyzed data of 597 patients with SAH, 1147 patients with ICH, and 7482 patients with IS. Strong/severe geomagnetic storms (GSs) were associated with an increase in the risk of SAH (by 58%) and HS (by 30%). Only GSs occurring during 6:00–12:00 UT were associated with the risk of IS. Low geomagnetic activity (GMA) was associated with the risk of ICH, HS, and IS (Rate Ratios with 95% CI were 2.51 (1.50–4.21), 2.33 (1.50–3.61), and 1.36 (1.03–1.81), respectively). The days of ≥ X9 class solar flare (SF) were associated with a 39% higher risk of IS. The risk of HS occurrence was greater than two times higher on the day after the maximum of a strong/severe solar proton event (SPE). These results showed that GSs, very low GMA, and stronger SFs and SPEs may be associated with an increased risk of different subtypes of stroke.

Statistical association between space weather and meteorological variables during winter in the Baltic sea region

Abstract: Some authors suggest that space weather events may affect daily weather variables, such as air temperature and atmospheric pressure. Associations between space weather events and daily weather variables have been analyzed in four Baltic airports near Kaunas, Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn during 2000–2016. We hypothesized that space weather events, 1–5 days before or after them, and intersection days (1–5 days after the event, which coincided with 1–5 days before the event) might be associated with changes in the daily weather variables. The effects of space weather were analyzed by using multivariate linear regression adjusting for the month, the linear trend, the QBO phase, and the NAO index. In all the studied cities, higher daily mean air temperature (T) was observed both during the period of 1–3 days before—1–4 days after high-speed solar wind (HSSW) (β > 1.8, p 10 MeV energy flux >10 pfu (β > 1.9, p 1000 pfu was related to lower T, relative humidity (RH), and WS, and higher ATP in all cities (p < 0.001 in all cases). In Northern airports, RH tended to be lower during geomagnetic storms (GS) or GS intersection days (p < 0.01). Such space weather events as HSSW and SPE may be associated with short-term changes in weather variables.