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Christmas holiday triggers of myocardial infarction

Olsson, Anneli LU orcid ; Thorén, Ida ; Mohammad, Moman A. LU ; Rylance, Rebecca LU ; Platonov, Pyotr G. LU ; Sparv, David LU and Erlinge, David LU orcid (2021) In Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal 55(6). p.340-344
Abstract

Objectives: Christmas holidays have been associated with the highest incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). We wanted to assess possible triggers of MI during Christmas. Design: A nationwide, retrospective postal survey with case-control design. All individuals suffering an MI during the Christmas holidays 2018 and 2019 in Sweden were identified through the SWEDEHEART registry and a control group matched in age and gender with chronic coronary syndrome who did not seek medical attention during Christmas were asked for participation. Subjects completed a questionnaire asking them to rate 27 potential MI-triggers as having occurred more or less than usual. Results: A total of 189 patients suffering an MI on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,... (More)

Objectives: Christmas holidays have been associated with the highest incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). We wanted to assess possible triggers of MI during Christmas. Design: A nationwide, retrospective postal survey with case-control design. All individuals suffering an MI during the Christmas holidays 2018 and 2019 in Sweden were identified through the SWEDEHEART registry and a control group matched in age and gender with chronic coronary syndrome who did not seek medical attention during Christmas were asked for participation. Subjects completed a questionnaire asking them to rate 27 potential MI-triggers as having occurred more or less than usual. Results: A total of 189 patients suffering an MI on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, and 157 patients in the control group responded to the questionnaire, representing response rates of 66% and 62%, respectively. Patients with MI on Christmas experienced more stress (37% vs. 21%, p =.002), depression (21% vs. 11%, p =.024), and worry (26% vs. 10%, p <.001) compared to the control group. The food and sweets consumption was increased in both groups, but to a greater extent in the control group (33% vs. 50%, p =.002 and 32% vs. 43%, p =.031). There were no increases in quarrels, anger, economic worries, or reduced compliance with medication. Conclusions: Patients suffering MI on Christmas holiday experienced higher levels of stress and emotional distress compared to patients with chronic coronary syndrome, possibly contributing to the phenomenon of holiday heart attack. Understanding what factors increase the number of MI on Christmas may help reduce the excess number of MIs and cardiovascular burden.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Christmas, Myocardial infarction, trigger
in
Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal
volume
55
issue
6
pages
340 - 344
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85116015025
  • pmid:34585998
ISSN
1401-7431
DOI
10.1080/14017431.2021.1983638
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
id
1b851046-c696-4e87-9016-8d14ff258f82
date added to LUP
2021-10-25 11:03:33
date last changed
2024-04-20 14:04:33
@article{1b851046-c696-4e87-9016-8d14ff258f82,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: Christmas holidays have been associated with the highest incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). We wanted to assess possible triggers of MI during Christmas. Design: A nationwide, retrospective postal survey with case-control design. All individuals suffering an MI during the Christmas holidays 2018 and 2019 in Sweden were identified through the SWEDEHEART registry and a control group matched in age and gender with chronic coronary syndrome who did not seek medical attention during Christmas were asked for participation. Subjects completed a questionnaire asking them to rate 27 potential MI-triggers as having occurred more or less than usual. Results: A total of 189 patients suffering an MI on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, and 157 patients in the control group responded to the questionnaire, representing response rates of 66% and 62%, respectively. Patients with MI on Christmas experienced more stress (37% vs. 21%, p =.002), depression (21% vs. 11%, p =.024), and worry (26% vs. 10%, p &lt;.001) compared to the control group. The food and sweets consumption was increased in both groups, but to a greater extent in the control group (33% vs. 50%, p =.002 and 32% vs. 43%, p =.031). There were no increases in quarrels, anger, economic worries, or reduced compliance with medication. Conclusions: Patients suffering MI on Christmas holiday experienced higher levels of stress and emotional distress compared to patients with chronic coronary syndrome, possibly contributing to the phenomenon of holiday heart attack. Understanding what factors increase the number of MI on Christmas may help reduce the excess number of MIs and cardiovascular burden.</p>}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Anneli and Thorén, Ida and Mohammad, Moman A. and Rylance, Rebecca and Platonov, Pyotr G. and Sparv, David and Erlinge, David}},
  issn         = {{1401-7431}},
  keywords     = {{Christmas; Myocardial infarction; trigger}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{340--344}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal}},
  title        = {{Christmas holiday triggers of myocardial infarction}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14017431.2021.1983638}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14017431.2021.1983638}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}