Abstract: Background: Summer is known to be a predisposing factor in the occurrence of some diseases. This particularly holds true in the case of increasing number of acute cholecystitis cases in a country like Saudi Arabia, which has a desert climate. Aims: To find the association between seasonal variation and the onset of acute cholecystitis and to compare the severity and frequency of acute cholecystitis during different seasons. Methodology: a cross sectional study which included all emergent patients with gallstone induced cholecystitis admitted at king Abdulaziz university hospital during the period between 2005-2014; excluding those below 20 years of age and/or pregnant and elective admissions. The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis was based on clinical examination and history and subsequently confirmed by ultrasound, CT, ERCP and lab results. The severity of acute cholecystitis was measured by using the TG13 diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholecystitis. Results: The study included 161 cases with a definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Summer season showed the highest percentage of occurrence of emergent acute cholecystitis (38.13%); followed by winter (22.50%), spring (21.88%), and fall (17.5%). Spearman test showed statistically significantly negative correlation between the season when the surgery was done and the severity of the acute cholecystitis. The disease was most severe in summer season; (r=-0.169) correlation coefficient and p-value (P= 0.046). Conclusion: Summer season is a major aggravating factor for acute cholecystitis. The frequency and severity is significantly higher during summer as compared to other seasons of the year.
Keywords: Acute cholecystitis, summer, severity.
Title: The Effect of Seasonal Variation on Developing Acute Cholecystitis among Adult Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Author: Azza S. Reda, Lujain A. Aboulkhair, Mohammed Y. Almsarri
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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