The Correlation Between Rhabdomyolysis and the 24 Solar Terms: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Rhabdomyolysis(RMI) is a life-threatening clinical disease, and its onset is correlated with climate temperature changes. However, there is a lack of research on the onset time of this disease, making it impossible to predict its occurrence from a temporal perspective.

Objective: To explore the correlation between the 24 Solar Terms and the RMI.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with creatine kinase (CK) levels ≥1000 U/L detected at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 4, 2022, to February 3, 2024. The data indicators observed included admission and discharge dates, length of hospital stay, underlying diseases, complications, relevant laboratory test indicators, and recovery status. The relationships between the fluctuations in the number of cases and the 24 solar terms were analyzed.

Results: A total of 1124 cases of RMI were identified, with 606 cases from February 4, 2022, to January 3, 2023, and 518 cases from January 4, 2023, to February 3, 2024. Among them, 816 were male, and 308 were female. The incidence of RMI showed periodic fluctuations with the solar terms, with the highest number of cases occurring during the Great Cold period and the lowest during the Vernal Equinox and Lesser Fullness periods. Among the 781 hospitalized patients, 266 (n=34.06%) had electrolyte disorders as complications. A total of 108 patients (n=13.83%) experienced varying degrees of renal impairment, and 45 patients (n=5.76%) developed acute kidney injury (AKI), accounting for 41.67% of those with renal impairment. Among the patients with AKI, 21 (n=46.67%) died eventually.

Conclusion: There is a correlation between the 24 Solar Terms and the RMI.