TY - JOUR
T1 - Seasonality of testicular torsion
T2 - A 10-year nationwide population based study
AU - Chiu, Bin
AU - Chen, Chin Shyan
AU - Keller, Joseph J.
AU - Lin, Ching Chun
AU - Lin, Herng Ching
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - Purpose: Using a 10-year nationwide data set, we examined seasonal variability in the monthly incidence of testicular torsion in Taiwan. We also investigated the association between meteorological factors (ambient temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, rainfall and total hours of sunshine) and testicular torsion, stratified by age group. Materials and Methods: This study retrieved data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. We identified 1,782 hospitalizations for testicular torsion between 2000 and 2009. Spearman's rank correlation was used to explore possible associations between climatic parameters and the monthly incidence of testicular torsion. In addition, we used the ARIMA method (Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average) to test for seasonality in the incidence of testicular torsion. Results: The results demonstrated a fairly similar seasonal pattern in monthly incidence rates for testicular torsion across both age groups and the combined groups. January (midwinter) had the highest rates, which decreased in April to a trough in June (early summer). After adjusting for the time trend effect and climatic parameters, the ARIMA regression revealed that January had a significantly higher monthly incidence of testicular torsion compared to February. In addition, our results indicated that the monthly incidence of testicular torsion was negatively associated with ambient temperature. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the monthly incidence of testicular torsion was significantly associated with seasonality and ambient temperature.
AB - Purpose: Using a 10-year nationwide data set, we examined seasonal variability in the monthly incidence of testicular torsion in Taiwan. We also investigated the association between meteorological factors (ambient temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, rainfall and total hours of sunshine) and testicular torsion, stratified by age group. Materials and Methods: This study retrieved data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. We identified 1,782 hospitalizations for testicular torsion between 2000 and 2009. Spearman's rank correlation was used to explore possible associations between climatic parameters and the monthly incidence of testicular torsion. In addition, we used the ARIMA method (Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average) to test for seasonality in the incidence of testicular torsion. Results: The results demonstrated a fairly similar seasonal pattern in monthly incidence rates for testicular torsion across both age groups and the combined groups. January (midwinter) had the highest rates, which decreased in April to a trough in June (early summer). After adjusting for the time trend effect and climatic parameters, the ARIMA regression revealed that January had a significantly higher monthly incidence of testicular torsion compared to February. In addition, our results indicated that the monthly incidence of testicular torsion was negatively associated with ambient temperature. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the monthly incidence of testicular torsion was significantly associated with seasonality and ambient temperature.
KW - epidemiology
KW - seasons
KW - spermatic cord torsion
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U2 - 10.1016/j.juro.2011.12.104
DO - 10.1016/j.juro.2011.12.104
M3 - Article
C2 - 22425116
AN - SCOPUS:84862778214
SN - 0022-5347
VL - 187
SP - 1781
EP - 1785
JO - Journal of Urology
JF - Journal of Urology
IS - 5
ER -