The association between arthritis and the weather |
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Authors: | Helen Aikman |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bendigo, P.O. Box 199, Bendigo, 3552 Victoria, Australia, AU |
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Abstract: | Despite the pervasiveness of the idea that arthritis is influenced by the weather, scientific evidence on the matter is sparse
and non-conclusive. This study, conducted in the Australian inland city of Bendigo, sought to establish a possible relationship
between the pain and rigidity of arthritis and the weather variables of temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure,
wind speed and precipitation. Pain and rigidity levels were scored by 25 participants with osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid
arthritis four times per day for 1 month from each season. Mean pain and rigidity scores for each time of each day were found
to be correlated with the meteorological data. Correlations between mean symptoms and temperature and relative humidity were
significant (P <0.001). Time of day was included in the analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that meteorological variables
and time of day accounted for 38% of the variance in mean pain and 20% of the variance in mean rigidity when data of all months
were considered. A post-study telephone questionnaire indicated 92% of participants perceived their symptoms to be influenced
by the weather, while 48% claimed to be able to predict the weather according to their symptoms. Hence, the results suggest
(1) decreased temperature is associated with both increased pain and increased rigidity and (2) increased relative himidity
is associated with increased pain and rigidity in arthritis sufferers.
Received: 3 October 1996/Accepted: 10 December 1996 |
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Keywords: | Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis Weather Cold sensitivity Sensitivity to humidity |
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