P II – 1–3 Geomagnetic storm, strong solar wind and stream interaction region affect for cardiovascular system

Background/aim Recent research shows that not only geomagnetic storms (GS), but also other space weather events affect human health. The main goal of this research is to evaluate GS, solar wind (SW) velocity, and flow of stream interaction regions (SIR) in the formation of influence patients for acute coronary syndromes. Methods In research we used daily heliophysical data from 2001 till 2003 (maximum of 23 Solar cycle). The data of 1391 patients, who were hospitalised at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, were used. Patient health variables were classified using binary state variables. The univariate associations between patients’ characteristics and space weather variables were analysed by using χ2 test and the logistic regression. The space weather variables were used as categorical: days of the events, 1–2 days before and after event. For the assessment of the impact of environmental variables on unfavourable cardiovascular characteristics, we used the percentage increase and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, and p-values of coefficients in the logistic regression analysis. Results On days of fast solar wind (SW≥600 km/s), more than 50% increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease. SIR events increase risk of arrhythmias more than two times. In patients, hospitalised during GS or 1–2 days after their increased the risk of hyperglycemia over 1.5-fold. GS lasted more than one day at SW≥600 km/s over 2.5 times increased of myocardial infarction with ST elevation. In patients with the metabolic syndrome the risk of ACS increased over 1.5 times during GS and on 1–2 days before and after. Conclusion The results obtained suggest that the 1–2 days prior to GS, GS, 1–2 days after GS, the faster solar wind velocity (≥600 km/s), and SIR can be identified as independent risk factors in humans.