Increased Health Risk in Subjects with High Self-Reported Seasonality

Abstract

BackgroundSeasonal variations in mood and behaviour, termed seasonality, are commonly reported in the general population. As a part of a large cross-sectional health survey in Hordaland, Norway, we investigated the relationship between seasonality, objective health measurements and health behaviours.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 11,545 subjects between 40–44 years old participated, completing the Global Seasonality Score, measuring seasonality. Waist/hip circumference, BMI and blood pressure were measured, and blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Subjects also completed a questionnaire on miscellaneous health behaviours (exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to investigate associations between seasonality and objective health measurements, while binary logistic regression was used for analysing associations between seasonality and health behaviours. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, month of questionnaire completion and sleep duration. Seasonality was positively associated with high waist-hip-ratio, BMI, triglyceride levels, and in men high total cholesterol. Seasonality was negatively associated with HDL cholesterol. In women seasonality was negatively associated with prevalence of exercise and positively associated with daily cigarette smoking.Conclusions/SignificanceHigh seasonality was associated with objective health risk factors and in women also with health behaviours associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches

“…The SPAQ has been demonstrated to be reliable in that it measures consistently and to be valid in that it measures what it was designed to measure [ 49 , 51 – 53 ]. However, it has been criticized for having low specificity, meaning that results may suggest people who do not have SAD will score as though they do [ 48 ].…”

Seasonal variations in mood and behavior associate with common chronic diseases and symptoms in a population-based study

“…General anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, tension anxiety and substance abuse are reportedly more prevalent during fall or winter than during spring or summer (Schlager et al, 1993;Harmatz et al, 2000;Kovalenko et al, 2000;de Graaf et al, 2005). The impacts of seasonal variations has also been studied in common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer and rheumatic diseases (Hawley et al, 2001;Øyane et al, 2010;Ernst, 2012). Numerous studies have also reported seasonal variations within metabolic syndrome parameters like weight, serum cholesterol level, uric acid, blood pressure, and glucose (Yanovski et al, 2000;Ockene et al, 2004;Liang, 2007;Hayashi et al, 2008;Rintamäki et al, 2008;Alpérovitch et al, 2009).…”

Seasonality and Delirium Tremens in Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

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