E. Stoupel, FESC.
Division of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqwa, Israel
Address for
correspondence: Prof. E. Stoupel, FESC, Division of Cardiology,
Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqwa, Israel.
E-mail:stoupel@zahav.net.il
Abstract
Background:
The purpose of this paper is a review of a number of
studies considering links between life threatening cardiac arrhythmias,
sudden cardiac death (SCD) and the level of environmental physical
activity factors like geomagnetic activity (GMA) and opposite them
cosmic ray and high energy proton flux. This is a part of studies in
the field named Clinical Cosmobiology.
Methods:
Temporal distribution of cardiac arrhythmias and SCD daily and monthly
were compared to the level of GMA, space proton flux, cosmic ray
activity according to neutron activity (impulse/min) on the earth's
surface. The cosmophysical data was obtained from the cosmic science
institutions in the USA, Russia and Finland (cosmic ray data,
partially).
Results:
As it follows from the results of the quoted studies there is an
inverse relationship between the frequency of cardiac arrhythmic events
and SCD and the level of daily GMA.
Conclusions:
Now studies are in progress considering the role of
neutron (cosmic ray) activity in the natural history of the mentioned
events. According to the various studies, we can presume that the GMA
has some protective effect on cardiac arrhythmias and SCD.
Keywords: sudden cardiac death; cardiac arrhythmia;
geomagnetic activity; proton flux; cosmic ray.
Introduction
Geomagnetic activity (GMA) is part of the physical environment
surrounding us. In last century many studies were published discussing
different links between the level of GMA and human homeostasis. They
include studies on cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD).
The medical community is not equivocal considering those
findings. In an editorial comment introducing one recent paper in this
field the Editor-in-Chief of “PACE” wrote: “…The question is whether
the findings represent a new area for investigation or is a “straw man”.
1 In this brief review some data
will be presented demonstrating some links between cardiac arrhythmic
events and level of GMA.
Geomagnetic activity
The
geomagnetic field is a physical phenomenon resulting from different
rotation speeds of different layers of our planet . The level of
activity of the field can be affected by “geoeffective” parts of
magnetic fields coming as a result of solar explosions and accompanied
giant magnetic fields. A small portion of them can “disturb” the
original geomagnetic field, resulting in active or stormy levels of
GMA. The level of GMA is measured in Nanotesla every three hours (8
parameters in 24 hours). The six highest results (in K or integrated
A indices of GMA) describe the day as Quiet (I), Unsettled (II),
Active (III) or Stormy (IV) day of GMA (
Table
1). In the last decades many changes in the human
hemeostasis related parameters were analyzed in relation with the level
of GMA
2,3,4.
But the level of GMA is not only a factor that can be related with some
pathologic effects. The field is also a shield defending
our planet from very energetic and potentially harmful space physical
activity ingradients, such as cosmic rays and very closely related to
them, high energy space proton flux, that can be more active on the
surface of our planet when the GMA is extremely low.
5,6,7
For more information special cosmophysical literature must be used, or
at least the Glossary of Solar-Terrestrial Terms
8.
Table
1: Geomagnetic activity gradation
Summary of clinical data
Forensic medicine data: Sudden
cardiac deaths (n=43) with signs of coronary atherosclerosis, but
without acute myocardial infarction occurred more often on days
of lowest (Quiet-Io) GMA compared with higher levels of GMA.(
p>0.001).
2
Holter monitoring data: Hourly
atrial premature complex (APC) and ventricular premature complex (VPC)
number was more on days of lowest GMA.
9,10
Sudden deaths
(n=480) in three hours after beginning of symptoms (before admission,
or at the admission department) were higher on days of lowest GMA (p
<0.01).
9 Number of sudden
deaths dropped on days of severe geomagnetic storm (very high GMA) in
July 2000 - the "Bastille day event".
11
Arrival of patients to the emergency department at a
tertiary university hospital of patients with atrial fibrillation
of new origin (n=653, 1185 days of observation) was inverse correlated
with four levels of GMA (r=-0.97, p=0.02).
12
Ventricular
tachycardia episodes by ambulatory Holter
monitoring (n=3019) registered 27% on days of low
(Io-IIo) GMA and 17% on days of two higher levels (chi
2=7.3,
p=0.006).
10,13
In patients
admitted for acute myocardial infarction (n=14,529; 8586 men) cardiac
arrhythmic events (PAF, AT,VT, VF, n=2024) were relatively higher
on days of lowest GMA.
14
SCD that were occurring in one hour after the onset of symptoms (n=261)
was more on days of lowest GMA in men < 65 years (p=0.06) and women
> 65years (n=0.027). SCD in woman younger than 65 years was
relatively rare.
15
Discharges
(n=402) in 137 days of 25 patients with implanted ICD for
ischemic cardiomyopathy, with impaired left ventricular systolic
function, for VT , VF were inverse correlated with the
level of four daily levels of GMA, (r=-0.96-0.97,p=0.03-0.04).
16
The number of
SCD (n=516), according to the first aid service data, was
significantly correlated with monthly flux of high energy space protons
(>90MeV) – a physical parameter closely related to cosmic
ray activity (described according to neutron monitoring
data on the earth's surface in impulse/min) and inverse related to the
levels of solar and GMA.
17
A new
experimental study in pigs has shown that in very low magnetic
fields a prolongation of QT interval and changes in P and T waves
were registered. Those changes are explained as a result of
Calcium ion efflux from the myocytes following channel
blocking or inactivation.
18
Also, a possibility was discussed that the electrons that are involved
in the electrical activity of the heart, are changing in different
levels of magnetic field activity - less active in higher magnetic
field.
19
Now in
progress are a number of studies considering the possible role of
cosmic ray activity – a factor inverse related to GMA, measured by
neutron activity on the earth’s surface in the pathogenesis of life
threatening cardiac arrhythmias and SCD.
20,21
The purpose of
this short review is to draw attention on possible environmental
physical effects that can be an additional pathogenetic factor
affecting the time distribution of events related to cardiac
arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.
Conclusion
The presented
data, a part of science named Clinical Cosmobiology, has shown
that temporal links exist between cardiac arrhythmia, including
life threatening events, SCD and level of cosmophysical activity.
Atrial fibrillation,ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation and SCD are
occurring in inverse relationship to the level of GMA. It is possible
that the level of GMA is a factor preventing SCD, especially in
patients with damaged heart muscle. The role of factors becoming more
active in low GMA, like neutron activity, are an object of further
studies.
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