Daylight saving time transitions are not associated with increased seizure incidence.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Given the known association of daylight saving time (DST) transitions with increased risk of accidents, heart attack, and stroke, we aimed to determine whether seizures, which are reportedly influenced by sleep and circadian disruption, also increased in frequency following the transition into DST.

Methods

Using Seizure Tracker's self-reported data from 12 401 individuals from 2008-2016, 932 717 seizures were assessed for changes in incidence in relation to DST transitions. Two methods of standardization-z scores and unit-scaled rate ratios (RRs)-were used to compare seizure propensities following DST transitions to other time periods.

Results

As a percentile relative to all other weeks in a given year, absolute seizure counts in the week of DST fell below t

SUBMITTER: Schneider LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6447440 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature