PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND STROKE (CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENTS) IN MALES AND FEMALES ABOVE AND BELOW AGE 65 ON DAYS OF DIFFERENT GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY LEVELS

Abstract

(1) There was a significant negative correlation between daily paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and geomagnetic activity level (r = 0.976, p = 0.02); (2) The absolute number of daily admission for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was higher on geomagnetic activity I degree days than on IV degree days (p < 0.004); (3) Stroke showed the same negative correlation with geomagnetic activity as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but only in males 65 years of age or less (r = 0.976, p = 0.027) suggesting a predominantly arrhythmic origin of stroke (cerebrovascular accident) in this group; (4) The male/female ratio for stroke was also adversely correlated with geomagnetic activity (r = 0.99, p = 0.0008), with the highest absolute number occurring on geomagnetic activity I degree days (X2 = 4.538, p = 0.03). These data are in accordance with previous studies showing increased heart electrical instability during periods of lowest geomagnetic activity.