Chronobiological Patterns of Acute Aortic Dissection

Background—Chronobiological rhythms have been shown to influence the occurrence of a variety of cardiovascular disorders. However, the effects of the time of the day, the day of the week, or monthly/seasonal changes on acute aortic dissection (AAD) have not been well studied. Methods and Results—Accordingly, we evaluated 957 patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) between 1996 and 2000 (mean age 62±14 years, type A 61%). A &khgr;2 test for goodness of fit and partial Fourier analysis were used to evaluate nonuniformity and rhythmicity of AAD during circadian, weekly, and monthly periods. A significantly higher frequency of AAD occurred from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon compared with other time periods (12:00 noon to 6:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 12:00 midnight, and 12:00 midnight to 6:00 am;P <0.001 by &khgr;2 test). Fourier analysis showed a highly significant circadian variation (P <0.001) with a peak between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. Although no significant variation was found for the day of the week, the frequency of AAD was significantly higher during winter (P =0.008 versus other seasons by &khgr;2 test). Fourier analysis confirmed this monthly variation with a peak in January (P <0.001). Subgroup analysis identified a significant association for all subgroups with circadian rhythmicity. However, seasonal/monthly variations were observed only among patients aged <70 years, those with type B AAD, and those without hypertension or diabetes. Conclusions—Similar to other cardiovascular conditions, AAD exhibits significant circadian and seasonal/monthly variations. Our findings may have important implications for the prevention of AAD by tailoring treatment strategies to ensure maximal benefits during the vulnerable periods.