The association between external weather conditions and pain and stiffness in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To determine the self-reported prevalence of weather sensitivity in a sample of female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine if there is objective evidence of associations between weather and pain and stiffness in female patients with RA. Methods. Fifty- three female patients residing in the Sydney metropolitan area participated in a study on the psychological determinants of disability from 1985 to 1987. During the study, subjects recorded pain on a visual analog scale and duration of morning stiffness for 14 day periods at 34 monthly intervals over 1-3 years (X = 15.7 months). After completion of the study, data on weather conditions were collected from the B..