DAILY DISTRIBUTION OF EPISODES OF ACUTE CARDIOGENIC PULMONARY-EDEMA

Many fatal or potentially fatal cardio-cerebrovascular diseases presen t a definite circadian distribution In their onset. In order to verify if episodes of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema have a significant d aily periodicity in their occurrence, a retrospective analysis of 1,20 4 episodes has been conducted. In all cases, tile hour of the day of o nset has been identified with certainty; all episodes occurred in hosp italized patients. The rhythmometric circadian inferential statistical analysis by means of the single cosinor method demonstrates that the episodes of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema present a significant (p < 0.002) circadian distribution, with a peak at 1:00 a.m. (from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in the circadian distribution regarding sex, age (less or more than 60 years), absence or presence of arterial hypertension and coronary art ery disease. Several factors may contribute to this behavior, especial ly the relationships between several endogenous circadian rhythms, sle ep and disease. The knowledge that acute pulmonary edema is a high chr onorisk disease could be of interest for the better understanding of i ts pathophysiology and for a better causative control and prevention.