Study finds daylight saving time has minimal impact on heart health

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of setting clocks forward one hour in the spring to improve the use of available daylight, which in Spain takes place on the last weekend of March. Questions have been raised about whether the practice of switching to this schedule leads to adverse health effects, such as cardiovascular events, due to changes in the circadian rhythm.

Previous studies have shown Moderate association between daylight saving time and increased incidence of ischemic strokes and hospitalization for atrial fibrillation. In contrast, for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), results have been inconsistent.

Given this situation, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in the USA decided to test what is true in this regard. AND Initial data suggests the impact is likely minimal.

In a national study, researchers used an advanced statistical model to look for a link between daylight saving time and serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes. The study analyzed 36,116,951 adults aged 18 years and older. in most US states (Arizona and Hawaii were excluded because these states do not observe daylight saving time).

The researchers focused on the week immediately following the spring and fall daylight saving time changes, when clocks are set forward or backward by one hour. “We looked at five years in the US and “We found that it is unlikely that there will be a clinically significant difference in cardiovascular health due to daylight saving time.”says Benjamin Satterfield, a cardiovascular specialist and lead author of the study.

Researchers found that During the study period, 74,722 adverse cardiovascular events occurred during spring and fall daylight saving time. An adverse cardiovascular event was recorded when a person was hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of heart attack, stroke, cardiogenic shock, or cardiac arrest.

“These cardiovascular events are common diseases.so the question was whether this was more than what would have been expected if daylight saving time had not followed,” Satterfield adds.

Daylight saving time varies around the world. Countries that set their clocks forward or back by one hour may do so on different dates, and some do not observe daylight saving time at all.

In a Mayo Clinic study There was a slight increase on the Monday and Friday following spring daylight saving time. statistically in the incidence of cardiovascular events, but after analyzing all the data, the researchers did not see this increase as clinically significant.

The researchers note that the practice of daylight saving time was intended to align social and work activities with daylight and save energy through less use of artificial lighting. They emphasize that no need to make changes to the daylight saving time system out of concern for heart health.

“When decisions are made to end daylight saving time, there is no need to take heart health concerns into account.”adds Bernard J. Gersh, a cardiologist and lead author of the study.

Researchers say the debate over daylight saving time affects other aspects of health as well. For example, Dr. Satterfield explained that Other research groups are studying the impact of daylight saving time on mental health and its impact on car accident rates.