Relationship between temperature change and the requirement for a permanent pacemaker implantation in bradyarrhythmias

Abstract

Some cardiovascular diseases are associated with seasonal or meteorological factors. We tried to identify the relationship between meteorological parameters and the requirement for a permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation for advanced sinus node dysfunction (SND) and atrioventricular block (AVB). This study enrolled 656 patients (67% male, age = 76 ± 11 years) who underwent a PPM implantation due to SND or AVB from January 2004 to December 2008. Using daily temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and daylight hour records from Taipei, we evaluated the effect of these meteorological parameters within different time periods on the occurrence of SND and AVB. There were 355 patients in the SND group and 301 in the AVB group. In the AVB group, more patients presented in the spring than in other seasons (P = 0.003). In the SND group, there was no relationship with the seasons (P = 0.137). The proportion of patients with AVB did not depend on the average temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, or daylight hours within 3, 7, and 14 days prior to admission (P = NS). A temperature change of greater than 11°C within 30 days prior to admission was associated with a significantly higher proportion of patients with advanced AVB compared to those with advanced SND (P = 0.009). Extreme change in temperature was the most independent predictor of the development of advanced AVB. The peak occurrence of advanced AVB was in the spring. The occurrence of advanced AVB was associated with extreme temperature changes within 30 days, especially in the spring.

Relationships of physiologically equivalent temperature and hospital admissions due to I30–I51 other forms of heart disease in Germany in 2009–2011

“…Literature on the relationship of the weather and atrioventricular block is much scarce. In a single hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2004–2008 (Liu et al 2011 ), a temperature (air temperature) change of greater than 11 °C within 30 days prior to admission was associated with a significantly higher proportion of patients with advanced atrioventricular block.…”

Seasonal Variability in The Implantations of Cardiovascular Electronic Devices

“…In an early study from Taiwan, Chen et al [19] reported that a peak of PM implantations was observed between October and December, both for sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular block. In a single hospital study, Liu et al [18] showed that PM implantations in Taiwan due to atrioventricular block had a peak in the spring but no seasonality was observed for that due to sinus node dysfunction. They also found that a sudden drop in the outside air temperature of greater than 11 °C within 30 days prior to admission was associated with a higher number of patients with atrioventricular block.…”

“…Ventricular arrhythmias also present a peak in the winter [14], but some studies have reported an additional peak in the summer months [15][16][17]. Very few studies, however, have reported a seasonal distribution in the bradyarrhythmia onset [18,19].…”

Nature’s wrath—The effect of weather on pain following orthopaedic trauma

“…Low barometric pressure is known to negatively influence a broad array of medical problems ranging from olfactory function to the incidence of myocardial infarction [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Temperature changes and warmth have been reported to increase the incidence of renal failure and atrioventricular block [9][10][11]. Precipitation and humidity have been shown to influence the incidence of pediatric headaches, asthma, and sickle cell crises [12][13][14].…”