Self-perceived weather sensitivity and joint pain in older people with osteoarthritis in six European countries: results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA)

Erik J Timmermans,Michael Denkinger,Elaine M Dennison,Laura A Schaap,Mark H Edwards,Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez,Sabina Zambon,Maria Victoria Castell,Nancy L Pedersen,Suzan Van Der Pas,Richard Peter,Ángel Otero,Paola Siviero,Dorly Jh Deeg,Florian Herbolsheimer

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-66

Abstract

BackgroundPeople with osteoarthritis (OA) frequently report that their joint pain is influenced by weather conditions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences in perceived joint pain between older people with OA who reported to be weather-sensitive versus those who did not in six European countries with different climates and to identify characteristics of older persons with OA that are most predictive of perceived weather sensitivity.MethodsBaseline data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used. ACR classification criteria were used to determine OA. Participants with OA were asked about their perception of weather as influencing their pain. Using a two-week follow-up pain calendar, average self-reported joint pain was assessed (range: 0 (no pain)-10 (greatest pain intensity)). Linear regression analyses, logistic regression analyses and an independent t-test were used. Analyses were adjusted for several confounders.ResultsThe majority of participants with OA (67.2%) perceived the weather as affecting their pain. Weather-sensitive participants reported more pain than non-weather-sensitive participants (M = 4.1, SD = 2.4 versus M = 3.1, SD = 2.4; p < 0.001). After adjusting for several confounding factors, the association between self-perceived weather sensitivity and joint pain remained present (B = 0.37, p = 0.03). Logistic regression analyses revealed that women and more anxious people were more likely to report weather sensitivity. Older people with OA from Southern Europe were more likely to indicate themselves as weather-sensitive persons than those from Northern Europe.ConclusionsWeather (in)stability may have a greater impact on joint structures and pain perception in people from Southern Europe. The results emphasize the importance of considering weather sensitivity in daily life of older people with OA and may help to identify weather-sensitive older people with OA.

Highlights

People with osteoarthritis (OA) frequently report that their joint pain is influenced by weather conditions
The weather-sensitive participants were more often female and lower educated. They had a lower sense of mastery and were more anxious and depressed compared to the non-weather-sensitive participants
Our results showed that more anxious people were more likely to indicate themselves as weather-sensitive persons

Summary

Introduction

People with osteoarthritis (OA) frequently report that their joint pain is influenced by weather conditions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences in perceived joint pain between older people with OA who reported to be weather-sensitive versus those who did not in six European countries with different climates and to identify characteristics of older persons with OA that are most predictive of perceived weather sensitivity. People with OA frequently report that the severity of their pain is influenced by weather conditions [4]. The present study aims to examine whether there are differences in joint pain between older people with OA who reported to be weather-sensitive and those who did not in six European countries with different climates

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