Seasonal trends in the prevalence of hypospadias: Aetiological implications

Seasonal trends in the prevalence of hypospadias: Aetiological implications

The aim of the present study was to examine the seasonality of hypospadias in Greece in an attempt to elucidate the aetiology. All boys born between 1991-1998, who underwent hypospadias repair at 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens (n=542) were analysed. All Greek live-born mal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental and therapeutic medicine Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 2960 - 2968
Main Authors: Mamoulakis, C, Avgenakis, G, Gkatzoudi, C, Duyker, G, Zisis, I E, Heretis, I, Antypas, S, Sofikitis, N, Spandidos, D A, Tsatsakis, A M, Tzonou, A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Greece Spandidos Publications 01-06-2017
Spandidos Publications UK Ltd
D.A. Spandidos
Subjects:
Births
Care and treatment
Demographic aspects
Diagnosis
Epidemiology
Fourier analysis
Genetic disorders
Hypospadias
Physiological aspects
Placental hormones
Population
Studies
Greece
South America
Sweden
Hungary
United States > US
Denmark
Italy
Chile
seasonal variation
hypospadias
epidemiology
prevalence
congenital anomaly
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Summary:The aim of the present study was to examine the seasonality of hypospadias in Greece in an attempt to elucidate the aetiology. All boys born between 1991-1998, who underwent hypospadias repair at 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens (n=542) were analysed. All Greek live-born males during the same period (population at risk; m=421,175) served as the controls. Seasonality by month of birth was evaluated with specific statistical tools. Meteorological parameters were also analysed. All tests yielded significant results, suggesting a simple harmonic prevalence pattern (highest/lowest: autumn, peak in October/spring, trough in April). Therefore, the first trimester of hypospadiac gestations coincides more frequently with winter. Meteorological parameters varied seasonally (maximal sunlight; air temperature in summer/minimal in winter, maximal rainfall in winter/minimal in summer) and were strongly associated pairwise. Hypospadiac birth prevalence follows a simple harmonic seasonal pattern and is associated with that of cryptorchidism in Greece. The coincidence of the first or third trimester of a potentially genetically influenced gestation with winter could lead to the phenotypic expression of hypospadias or cryptorchidism, respectively. The potential role of a cyclic-varied androgen-production stimulator, such as human chorionic gonadotrophin may be speculated. The seasonality of a common environmental factor acting directly/indirectly may contribute to these patterns, and possibly to the common pathogenesis of these congenital malformations.
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ISSN:1792-0981
1792-1015
DOI:10.3892/etm.2017.4323