| Seasonal variation in onset of acute appendicitis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16817501 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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PURPOSE: Several acute diseases exhibit a circannual pattern. The present study was aimed to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the onset of acute appendicitis (AA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of AA diagnosed at the St Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, from 1998 to 2004, were considered. The total sample was divided into subgroups by gender, age (< or = 19 and > or = 20 years), and ICD9-CM code. For statistical analysis, the distribution of symptom onset was tested for uniformity by the chi2 test for goodness of fit, and chronobiological analysis was performed by applying partial Fourier series. RESULTS: In the 7-year period analysis, 1331 consecutive cases of AA (673 males) were observed. The analysis showed, for total population, a seasonal variation with a peak in summer and a nadir in spring. Subjects < or = 19 years (n = 654) showed a higher frequency of events in winter (winter = 191 cases, 29.2%; spring = 154 cases, 23.5%, summer = 142 cases, 21.7%, autumn = 167 cases, 25.5%, chi2 = 8.07 p = 0.046), whereas subjects > or = 20 years (n = 677) showed a higher frequency in summer (winter = 150, 22.2%, spring = 151, 22.3%, summer = 214, 31.6%, autumn = 162, 23.9%, chi2 = 16.33 p = 0.001; difference between the two groups: chi2: 19.2, p < 0.001). Cases of AA with peritonitis (ICD-9 540.0, n = 90), were more frequent in summer (winter = 18, 20%, spring = 19, 21.17%, summer = 38, 42.2%, autumn = 15, 16.7%, chi2 = 14.22, p = 0.002), and chronobiological analysis found a statistically significant peak of higher incidence in July (PR 68.2, 95%CL: May-September, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The existence of a seasonal pattern in the onset of AA is confirmed, with differences in relation to age. |
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Authors:
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M Gallerani; B Boari; G Anania; G Cavallesco; R Manfredini |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: La Clinica terapeutica Volume: 157 ISSN: 0009-9074 ISO Abbreviation: Clin Ter Publication Date: 2006 Mar-Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-07-04 Completed Date: 2006-08-22 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0372604 Medline TA: Clin Ter Country: Italy |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 123-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Internal Medicine, St Anna Hospital Ferrara, Italy. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Acute Disease Adolescent Adult Age Distribution Appendicitis / epidemiology* Child Female Humans Incidence Italy / epidemiology Male Retrospective Studies Seasons* Sex Distribution |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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