Association between geomagnetic storms, solar proton events and hospitalization for myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background and Aims: There is evidence that geomagnetic storms (GS) and solar proton events (SPE) is associated with cardiovascular system: myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular death, and stroke. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between SPE, GS, and the risk of hospitalization for MI. Methods: The study included 1,600 patients hospitalized for MI in Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences during 1997-1998 and survived more than one day. National Geophysical Data Centre data measured by satellite GOES was used to evaluate SPE and GS. The daily geomagnetic activity we assessed by Ap indices; geomagnetic storm Ap=50. The SPE define as proton >10MeV and presented in NGDC database. We evaluated the associations between SPE, GS, and hospitalization for MI by Poisson regression, controlling for seasonal variation and weekdays. Results: The mean of hospitalized patients with MI per day in workday 2.48, in weekend 1.48. There is bigger risk of hospitalization for MI in Autumn by 20%. First day after GS the risk of hospitalization for MI increased by 31% (RR=1.31, 95% CI 0.95-1.80). First day after GS with SPE, GS without SPE, SPE without GS, the relative risk of hospitalization for MI was respectively RR=1.81; 95 % CI 1.02 1.91, RR=0.85, 95% CI 0.48 1.51, RR=1.15, 95% CI 0.97-1.35. Conclusion: Geomagnetic storm was associated with hospitalization for MI. These findings suggest that GS in conjunction with SPE increase the risk of hospitalization for MI.