Increased Occurrence of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest on Mondays in a Community-Based Study

Acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death are more common on Mondays than other days of the week. The stress of returning to work at the beginning of the week has been postulated as a possible trigger factor. This project examined the weekly variation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chronobiology international 2005, Vol.22 (1), p.107-120
Main Authors: Gruska, Michael, Gaul, Georg B., Winkler, Michael, Levnaic, Sascha, Reiter, Christian, Voracek, Martin, Kaff, Alfred
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
7-Day Rhythm
Aged
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Circadian Rhythm
Death, Sudden, Cardiac - epidemiology
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart Arrest - epidemiology
Hospitals
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Monday Excess
Periodicity
Residence Characteristics
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Time
Time Factors
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Summary:Acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death are more common on Mondays than other days of the week. The stress of returning to work at the beginning of the week has been postulated as a possible trigger factor. This project examined the weekly variation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of nontraumatic origin for the entire case series as well as for selected subgroups. A retrospective analysis of 1,498 incidences between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1996 revealed a distinct Monday peak in occurrence irrespective of age, gender, presence of witnesses, primary survival, or primary ECG. This finding, however, was most pronounced in retired patients, subjects living alone, and persons found unconscious outside buildings or in public places. One important trigger of cardiac arrest is going to work after weekends; however, resumption of social and other activities on Mondays is another possible trigger. Other factors, such as endogenous biological rhythms, may contribute to an increased risk at this particular time even in elderly.
ISSN:0742-0528
1525-6073
DOI:10.1081/CBI-200041046