Full Paper
Influence of ambient temperature and humidity on joint pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. What should our patients expect as climate change progresses?
T. Filla1, G. Chehab2, J.G. Richter3, H. Acar4, J.H. Distler5, O. Sander6
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology and Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. sander@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
CER4
2024 Vol.1, N°2
PI 0031, PF 0035
Full Paper
Received: 06/06/2024
Accepted : 17/07/2024
In Press: 25/07/2024
Published: 20/12/2024
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To demonstrate the influence of temperature and humidity on swelling (SJC) and tenderness (TJC) of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA).
METHODS:
TJC and SJC of our RA and SpA cohorts, CRP and Disease Activity Score (DAS) were modelled using regional weather data on average temperature and humidity on the day of the study and 5 days before examination.
RESULTS:
2,116 patients with 17,256 visits were documented over 18 years. The mean temperature was 11°C (-10°C to 31°C) and the mean humidity was 76% (33%-99%). The RA cohort showed a temperature-dependent linear increase in SJC by a factor of 1.05 per 10°C for the range -10°C to +30°C, but no tendency for TJC, CRP or DAS to be influenced by temperature. Regarding humidity, we saw a linear decrease in SJC and TJC. This tendency is also seen when the average values of the 5 days before to the examination are chosen as predictors. In the SpA cohort, we found no tendency for SJC and CRP to be influenced by temperature. A slight increase in the number of swollen joints was observed at higher relative humidity.
CONCLUSIONS:
The outpatient cohort of well-treated, controlled RA showed a linear increase in SJC with increasing ambient temperature and decreasing relative humidity. The SpA cohort showed an opposite trend. An impending rise in temperature and prolonged periods of drought indicate an increase in RA disease activity. Large cohorts are required to make valid predictions.
