Kai-Chieh Chang1, Tzy-Haw Wu2, Jean Ching-Yuan Fann3, Sam Li-Sheng Chen4, Amy Ming-Fang Yen4, Sherry Yueh-Hsia Chiu5, Fei-Chi Liu6, Hsiu-Hsi Chen7, Horng Huei Liou8. 1. Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yunlin Branch, No. 579, Sec. 2, Yunlin Rd., Douliu City, Yunlin County 640, Taiwan, ROC. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Department of Health Industry Management, Kainan University, No. 1, Kainan Rd., Luzhu Dist., Taoyuan City 338, Taiwan, ROC. 4. School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan, ROC. 5. Department and Graduate Institute of Health Care Management, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan, ROC. 6. Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan, ROC. 7. Institute of Epidemiology and Prevention Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan, ROC. 8. Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yunlin Branch, No. 579, Sec. 2, Yunlin Rd., Douliu City, Yunlin County 640, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: hhl@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The onset of epileptic seizures is influenced by weather, which is multifactorial. It is unknown which specific weather factors affect the occurrence of seizures. OBJECTIVES: We studied the correlation between the onset of epileptic seizures and multiple weather parameters based on a population-based registry profile. METHODS: We determined the number of patients who visited emergency services in Taiwan diagnosed as having epilepsy. Then we used a linear regression model to analyze the monthly average number of patients who received emergency treatment for epilepsy in relation to temperature, barometric pressure, accumulated precipitation, relative humidity, and hours of sunshine. The Poisson regression model was used to analyze multiple meteorological factors in relation to the number of daily emergency visits because of epilepsy. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cutoff temperature for the occurrence of seizures. RESULTS: Temperature appeared to be the robust factor for the onset of epilepsy. For every 1 °C decrease in temperature, there was a relative risk increase of 1.016 in the number of emergency visits as a result of epilepsy. Temperature lower than 18 °C had the best predictive value for seizure. Barometric pressure, accumulated precipitation, relative humidity, and the number of hours of sunshine were not related to the occurrence of seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that temperature is the only influential meteorological factor that affects seizure occurrence.
BACKGROUND: The onset of epilepticseizures is influenced by weather, which is multifactorial. It is unknown which specific weather factors affect the occurrence of seizures. OBJECTIVES: We studied the correlation between the onset of epilepticseizures and multiple weather parameters based on a population-based registry profile. METHODS: We determined the number of patients who visited emergency services in Taiwan diagnosed as having epilepsy. Then we used a linear regression model to analyze the monthly average number of patients who received emergency treatment for epilepsy in relation to temperature, barometric pressure, accumulated precipitation, relative humidity, and hours of sunshine. The Poisson regression model was used to analyze multiple meteorological factors in relation to the number of daily emergency visits because of epilepsy. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cutoff temperature for the occurrence of seizures. RESULTS: Temperature appeared to be the robust factor for the onset of epilepsy. For every 1 °C decrease in temperature, there was a relative risk increase of 1.016 in the number of emergency visits as a result of epilepsy. Temperature lower than 18 °C had the best predictive value for seizure. Barometric pressure, accumulated precipitation, relative humidity, and the number of hours of sunshine were not related to the occurrence of seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that temperature is the only influential meteorological factor that affects seizure occurrence.
Authors: Rachel E Stirling; David B Grayden; Wendyl D'Souza; Mark J Cook; Ewan Nurse; Dean R Freestone; Daniel E Payne; Benjamin H Brinkmann; Tal Pal Attia; Pedro F Viana; Mark P Richardson; Philippa J Karoly Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 4.003
Authors: Medine I Gulcebi; Emanuele Bartolini; Omay Lee; Christos Panagiotis Lisgaras; Filiz Onat; Janet Mifsud; Pasquale Striano; Annamaria Vezzani; Michael S Hildebrand; Diego Jimenez-Jimenez; Larry Junck; David Lewis-Smith; Ingrid E Scheffer; Roland D Thijs; Sameer M Zuberi; Stephen Blenkinsop; Hayley J Fowler; Aideen Foley; Sanjay M Sisodiya Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.337