Author(s): Juan Silvestre G. Pascual, MD; Kathleen Joy O. Khu, MD; Edroico Mari B. Brillante, MD; Johnston T. Te Jr., MD; Bernard Alan B. Racoma, PhD; Katrina Hannah D. Ignacio, MD; Gerardo D. Legaspi, MD, FPCS, FAFN

Rationale/Objective:
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may be associated with meteorologic factors in temperate countries. The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between meteorologic factors and aSAH admissions in the Philippines, a tropical country with two seasons: rainy and dry.

Methods:
A census review of aSAH admissions from 2015 to 2019 at a tertiary hospital was performed. Meteorologic data were collected for the same time period, and statistical analysis was performed.

Results:
A total of 660 patients were admitted for aSAH, 275 and 385 during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. August and October had the greatest number of mean admissions (13.2) while February had the least (6.2). There was a moderate positive correlation between aSAH admissions and mean temperature. Negligible to weak negative correlations were seen between aSAH admissions and humidity, barometric pressure and precipitation. However, there was no correlation on regression analysis.

Conclusion:
There were no significant differences in aSAH admissions between rainy and dry seasons. The authors found an increase in aSAH admissions during months with higher temperatures and HI, and weak to negligible negative correlations between aSAH admissions and humidity, barometric pressure, and precipitation. These findings may inform health care facilities in terms of readiness for aSAH admissions.

Key words: subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), aneurysm, meteorology, weather, tropical

DOI: