Influence of cosmophysical activity on monthly mortality due to myocardial infarction

• Main Authors: David Padilla-Cueto, Halbert Hernández-Negrín, Norma E. Batista Hernández, Kenia González Acosta, José I. Ramírez-Gómez, Arlenys Pérez-Valdivia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara 2018-04-01
• Series: CorSalud
• Online Access: http://www.revcorsalud.sld.cu/index.php/cors/article/view/225

Introduction: The role of external triggers in the development of acute cardiovascular events is as important as that of classical risk factors. There is some evidence linking solar and geomagnetic phenomena with cardiovascular events. Objective: To identify the possible cosmophysical activity on monthly mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients from Villa Clara. Method: Analytical observational study of every patient deceased due to AMI (7132) in Villa Clara over 164 months (January 2001 - August 2014). The variables studied were: monthly mortality caused by AMI, solar activity (absolute and smoothed sunspots, and 10.7 cm solar radio flux, absolute and adjusted), geomagnetic (indices: Ap, Cp, Am and aa) and cosmic rays (neutron activity of cosmic rays on the Earth's surface). The Pearson correlation was used for the analysis. Results: The monthly AMI mortality showed significant correlations, although weak and negative, where the variables of solar activity did not discriminate between sexes. The variables of geomagnetic activity and cosmic rays did not correlate with mortality due to myocardial infarction. Conclusions: In the patients from Villa Clara, monthly mortality caused by AMI was inversely related to solar activity. However, these results do not allow generalizations that may influence on the medical care for AMI in the territory; so further research is needed on the subject.