Background: Stroke occurrence appears to be a random event, yet annual and supra-annual periodicity is observed. Recent attention in atherosclerotic disease etiology has focused on infectious and inflammatory mechanisms. Influenza is one such infection that may influence stroke occurrence. Methods: We explored population-based time series data on stroke occurrence and influenza activity. Using Fourier transformation to isolate low-frequency signals in the data, the inverse transformed time series were regressed using Prais-Winsten regression to correct for serially auto-correlated residuals, to assess the relationship between influenza rates and stroke occurrence rates. Results: Changes in the low-frequency components of influenza activity predicted the changes in low-frequency components of the stroke occurrence data with a delay of about 20 weeks. The delay between changes in influenza activity and subsequent stroke activity was different for different stroke types. Overall, the effect size was small with a tripling of the influenza rate associated with about a 6% change in stroke occurrence rate. Conclusions: A small proportion of the patterns of stroke occurrence may be explained by variation in influenza activity. Further evaluation of influenza as a triggering agent in stroke is needed.

Keywords:
Stroke, Influenza, Respiratory tract infection, ICD-9
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2004
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.