Seasonal Variations and the Incidence of Stroke: A Cross-Analysis of Meteorological and Epidemiological Data in a Sub-Saharan Africa Region with an Equatorial Climate

RESUMEBackground. Recent studies have shown that the climate could influence on the occurrence of stroke. However, little is known about regions with an equatorial climate. We aimed to study the association between seasonal variation, meteorological parameters, and stroke in a Cameroonian region with an equatorial climate. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 252 records files of patients who had stroke consecutively and retrospectively collected from 2016 to 2018 at the Bafoussam regional hospital (Cameroon). Meteorological parameters were provided by the meteorological station of the Bafoussam airport. We compared the frequencies with the chi-square test, the student t-test was used for the comparisons of the means of the quantitative variables. The threshold of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The average age was 66 ± 14 years, and 135 (53.6%) were male. Stroke incidence was 75.8 % during the rainy season and irrespectively of the season, ischemic stroke was more represented. There was no significant difference comparing the median incidence of stroke cases during wet and dry seasons p = 0.5. We also did not find a significant association between equatorial seasonal variations and stroke (p = 0.86). As between the stroke and the monthly mean precipitation (p = 0.62), the monthly mean daily temperatures (p = 0.12), the monthly mean maximum temperatures (p = 0.06), and the monthly average of minimum temperatures (p = 0.60). Conclusion. There is no significant association between equatorial seasonal variation, meteorological parameters, and strokes in the Bafoussam regional hospital. The equatorial type climate thus may not influence the occurrence of stroke.ABSTRACTContexte. Des etudes recentes ont montre que le climat pouvait influencer la survenue d'un accident vasculaire cerebral (AVC). Cependant, on en sait peu sur les regions a climat equatorial. Nous avons etudie l'association entre les variations saisonnieres et les AVC dans une region camerounaise au climat equatorial. Materiels et methodes. Nous avons mene une etude transversale sur 252 dossiers de patients ayant subi un AVC consecutivement et retrospectivement collectes de 2016 a 2018 a l'hopital regional de Bafoussam (Cameroun). Les parametres meteorologiques ont ete fournis par la station meteorologique de l'aeroport de Bafoussam. Nous avons compare les frequences avec le test du chi carre, le test t de Student a ete utilise pour les comparaisons des moyennes des variables quantitatives. Le seuil de signification a ete fixe a 0,05. Resultats. L'âge moyen etait de 66 ± 14 ans et 135 (53,6%) etaient des hommes. L'incidence des AVC etait de 75,8% pendant la saison des pluies et quelle que soit la saison, les AVC ischemiques etaient plus representes. Il n'y avait pas de difference significative par rapport a l'incidence mediane des cas d'AVC pendant les saisons humides et seches p = 0,5. Nous n'avons pas non plus trouve d'association significative entre les variations saisonnieres equatoriales et les accidents vasculaires cerebraux (p = 0,86). Entre l'AVC et les precipitations moyennes mensuelles (p = 0,62), les temperatures quotidiennes moyennes mensuelles (p = 0,12), les temperatures maximales moyennes mensuelles (p = 0,06) et la moyenne mensuelle des temperatures minimales (p = 0,60). Conclusion. Il n'y a pas d'association significative entre les variations saisonnieres en region equatoriale et les AVC a l'hopital regional de Bafoussam. Le climat de type equatorial peut ne pas influencer la survenue d'un AVC.