Solar Activity Is Associated With Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure in Elderly Adults

Abstract

Overview

Investigating the connection between solar and geomagnetic activities with blood pressure (BP) variations, this study explores how natural phenomena might influence BP in elderly men, pointing to possible implications for managing hypertension.

Methods

• Study involved 675 elderly men from the Normative Aging Study in Boston, MA, with 1949 BP recordings between 2000 and 2017.
• Mixed-effects regression models analyzed the impact of solar activity and geomagnetic disturbances over various time frames up to 28 days on diastolic and systolic BP.
• The study also considered adjustments for meteorological conditions, ambient air pollutants, and ambient particle radioactivity.

Findings

• Positive associations were found between increased solar and geomagnetic activities and higher BP, with the strongest impacts observed 16 to 28 days preceding BP measurement.
• Increased levels of interplanetary magnetic field and sunspot number correlated with a significant rise in BP, showing increases of up to 2.8 mm Hg in diastolic and 2.7 mm Hg in systolic pressure.
• The associations remained significant even after controlling for other factors like air pollution and radioactivity.

Conclusion

The study concludes that natural phenomena related to the solar cycle have a noticeable effect on BP, suggesting that these elements could influence hypertension management in elderly individuals.

Clinical Perspective

• Solar and geomagnetic activities influence BP, potentially similar to or greater than environmental pollutants.
• The direct health implications include the need to consider these natural factors in health strategies for managing BP levels in the elderly.