Low ambient temperature as the only meteorological risk factor of seizure occurrence: A multivariate study

Kai-Chieh Chang; Tzy-Haw Wu; Jean Ching-Yuan Fann; Sam Li-Sheng Chen; Amy Ming-Fang Yen; Sherry Yueh-Hsia Chiu; Fei-Chi Liu; Hsiu-Hsi Chen; Horng Huei Liou

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.04.036

Low ambient temperature as the only meteorological risk factor of seizure occurrence: A multivariate study

Epilepsy Behav. 2019 Nov;100(Pt A):106283. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.04.036. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Authors

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

Affiliations

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.

PMID: 31525555
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.04.036

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.

Keywords: Epilepsy; Meteorology; Seizure; Temperature.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atmospheric Pressure
Cold Temperature / adverse effects*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Epilepsy / physiopathology*
Female
Humans
Humidity
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Rain
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Seizures / etiology*
Sunlight
Taiwan