Introduction: The professionals who deal with medical emergencies observe peaks in the incidence of epileptic seizures. Some epileptic patients attribute their seizures to climatic and seasonal changes. AIMS. To analyse the relationship between meteorological, calendar-related and circadian variables and the appearance of epileptic seizures.
Patients and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a residential home for persons with intellectual disability.
Results: The 16 residents who were studied presented 855 epileptic attacks, including 159 in peaks or clusters, over the period 2009-2012. The predominance of seizures observed in autumn and during the fourth quarter of the year is not significant (p > 0.05). There is no statistically significant relation between the presence of epileptic seizures and the phases of the moon or days of the week. Most epileptic seizures (87.2%) occur during the daytime (p < 0.001). Findings showed that 36.3% occur in the morning between 08:00 and 10:59. There is no statistical correlation between the number of epileptic seizures and the atmospheric pressure, rainfall, degree of humidity or mean temperature (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: The appearance of peaks or clustering of epileptic seizures was observed. Their presence shows a marked circadian component. The influence of meteorological factors, the phases of the moon and seasons of the year on epilepsy is not significant.
Title: Influencia en la epilepsia de factores meteorologicos y cronologicos.
Introduccion. Los profesionales que atienden urgencias medicas observan picos de incidencia de crisis epilepticas. Algunos pacientes epilepticos atribuyen sus crisis a cambios climaticos y estacionales. Objetivo. Analizar la relacion de variables meteorologicas, de calendario y circadianas con la aparicion de crisis epilepticas. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio retrospectivo en un centro residencial de personas con discapacidad intelectual. Resultados. Los 16 residentes estudiados presentan 855 crisis epilepticas, entre ellas 159 en picos o cumulos, a lo largo del periodo 2009-2012. El predominio de crisis encontrado en otoño y durante el cuarto trimestre del año no es significativo (p > 0,05). No hay relacion estadisticamente significativa entre la presencia de crisis epilepticas con las fases lunares y los dias de la semana. La mayoria de crisis epilepticas (87,2%) se presenta en horario diurno (p < 0,001). El 36,3% aparece entre las 8:00 y las 10:59 h. No hay correlacion estadistica entre el numero de crisis epilepticas respecto a la presion atmosferica, la precipitacion, el grado de humedad y la temperatura media (p > 0,05). Conclusiones. Se constata la aparicion de picos o cumulos de crisis epilepticas. La presencia de estas presenta un marcado componente circadiano. La influencia en la epilepsia de los factores meteorologicos estudiados, fases lunares y estaciones del año no es significativa.