Seasonal Variation of Renal Colic in the Emergency Department and it Association with Climatic Parameters

Jee,  Chang Gun; Lee,  Kyeong Ryong; Hong,  Dae Young; Chang,  Wen Joen

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 25(2); 2014 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2014;25(2): 145-151.

Seasonal Variation of Renal Colic in the Emergency Department and it Association with Climatic Parameters

Chang Gun Jee, Kyeong Ryong Lee, Dae Young Hong, Wen Joen Chang

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungae Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Emergency Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 20070123@kuh.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:
Renal colic is a common disorder with a high rate of recurrence, resulting in a large number of emergency department visits. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation in renal colic attacks and the association with climatic parameters.
METHODS:
The time of onset, monthly incidence, and effects of climatic parameters of renal colic were evaluated. Data on climatic parameters were obtained from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Correlation between the number of monthly episodes and climatic parameters was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
RESULTS:
A total of 5060 renal colic episodes were retrieved during a period of 84 months (from May 2006 to April 2013). Episodes of renal colic were more common in men (67.4%) than in women(32.6%). The incidence of renal colic showed a circadian variation, with a morning peak (500~1000 h) and an afternoon dip (1500~1900 h). Findings of the current study showed a higher number of renal colic episodes during summer compared with other seasons. Significant positive correlations were observed between the mean monthly temperature and the monthly incidence of renal colic, but not between other climatic parameters (relative humidity, rainfall, sunshine hours, and atmospheric pressure) and incidence of renal colic.
CONCLUSION:
We conclude that the incidence of renal colic has significant seasonal variation, and only mean monthly temperature showed any consistent association with monthly attack rates.

Key words: Climate, Seasons, Renal colic, Urolithiasis