Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services

User menu

  • My Cart
  • Log In

Search

  • Advanced search
The Journal of Rheumatology
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services
  • My Cart
  • Log In
The Journal of Rheumatology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Follow jrheum on Twitter
  • Visit jrheum on Facebook
  • Follow jrheum on LinkedIn
  • Follow jrheum on RSS
Research ArticleArticle

The Influence of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis

Erik J. Timmermans, Laura A. Schaap, Florian Herbolsheimer, Elaine M. Dennison, Stefania Maggi, Nancy L. Pedersen, Maria Victoria Castell, Michael D. Denkinger, Mark H. Edwards, Federica Limongi, Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez, Paola Siviero, Rocio Queipo, Richard Peter, Suzan van der Pas and Dorly J.H. Deeg for the EPOSA Research Group
The Journal of Rheumatology October 2015, 42 (10) 1885-1892; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.141594
Erik J. Timmermans
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: ej.timmermans@vumc.nl
Laura A. Schaap
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Florian Herbolsheimer
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Elaine M. Dennison
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Stefania Maggi
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nancy L. Pedersen
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Maria Victoria Castell
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael D. Denkinger
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mark H. Edwards
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Federica Limongi
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Paola Siviero
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Rocio Queipo
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Richard Peter
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Suzan van der Pas
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Dorly J.H. Deeg
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters
PreviousNext
Loading

Abstract

Objective. This study examined whether daily weather conditions, 3-day average weather conditions, and changes in weather conditions influence joint pain in older people with osteoarthritis (OA) in 6 European countries.

Methods. Data from the population-based European Project on OSteoArthritis were used. The American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were used to diagnose OA in older people (65–85 yrs). After the baseline interview, at 6 months, and after the 12–18 months followup interview, joint pain was assessed using 2-week pain calendars. Daily values for temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed were obtained from local weather stations. Multilevel regression modelling was used to examine the pain-weather associations, adjusted for several confounders.

Results. The study included 810 participants with OA in the knee, hand, and/or hip. After adjustment, there were significant associations of joint pain with daily average humidity (B = 0.004, p < 0.01) and 3-day average humidity (B = 0.004, p = 0.01). A significant interaction effect was found between daily average humidity and temperature on joint pain. The effect of humidity on pain was stronger in relatively cold weather conditions. Changes in weather variables between 2 consecutive days were not significantly associated with reported joint pain.

Conclusion. The associations between pain and daily average weather conditions suggest that a causal relationship exist between joint pain and weather variables, but the associations between day-to-day weather changes and pain do not confirm causation. Knowledge about the relationship between joint pain in OA and weather may help individuals with OA, physicians, and therapists to better understand and manage fluctuations in pain.

Key Indexing Terms:
  • JOINT PAIN
  • OLDER POPULATION
  • OSTEOARTHRITIS
  • WEATHER
  • WEATHER SENSITIVITY

Footnotes

  • The Indicators for Monitoring Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma - Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study (IMCA - ActiFE) was supported by the European Union (No. 2005121) and the Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg. The Italian cohort study is part of the National Research Council Project on Aging (PNR). The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. The Peñagrande study was partially supported by the National Fund for Health Research (Fondo de Investigaciones en Salud) of Spain (project numbers FIS PI 05/1898; FIS RETICEF RD06/0013/1013 and FIS PS09/02143). The Swedish Twin Registry is supported in part by the Swedish Ministry of Higher Education. The Hertfordshire Cohort Study is funded by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain, Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, and the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

  • Accepted for publication June 29, 2015.
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Rheumatology
Vol. 42, Issue 10
1 Oct 2015
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by Author
  • Editorial Board (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about The Journal of Rheumatology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Influence of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from The Journal of Rheumatology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the The Journal of Rheumatology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
The Influence of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis
Erik J. Timmermans, Laura A. Schaap, Florian Herbolsheimer, Elaine M. Dennison, Stefania Maggi, Nancy L. Pedersen, Maria Victoria Castell, Michael D. Denkinger, Mark H. Edwards, Federica Limongi, Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez, Paola Siviero, Rocio Queipo, Richard Peter, Suzan van der Pas, Dorly J.H. Deeg
The Journal of Rheumatology Oct 2015, 42 (10) 1885-1892; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.141594

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

 Request Permissions

Share
The Influence of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis
Erik J. Timmermans, Laura A. Schaap, Florian Herbolsheimer, Elaine M. Dennison, Stefania Maggi, Nancy L. Pedersen, Maria Victoria Castell, Michael D. Denkinger, Mark H. Edwards, Federica Limongi, Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez, Paola Siviero, Rocio Queipo, Richard Peter, Suzan van der Pas, Dorly J.H. Deeg
The Journal of Rheumatology Oct 2015, 42 (10) 1885-1892; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.141594
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Save to my folders

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • MATERIALS AND METHODS
    • RESULTS
    • DISCUSSION
    • Acknowledgment
    • Appendix
    • Footnotes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters

Keywords

JOINT PAIN
OLDER POPULATION
OSTEOARTHRITIS
WEATHER
WEATHER SENSITIVITY

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Hospitalized Infections in People With Osteoarthritis: A National US Study
  • Axial Articular Manifestations in Primary Sjögren Syndrome: Association With Spondyloarthritis
  • Feminization of the Rheumatology Workforce: A Longitudinal Evaluation of Patient Volumes, Practice Sizes, and Physician Remuneration
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • JOINT PAIN
  • OLDER POPULATION
  • osteoarthritis
  • WEATHER
  • WEATHER SENSITIVITY

Content

  • First Release
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Audiovisual Rheum
  • COVID-19 and Rheumatology

Resources

  • Guide for Authors
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Author Payment
  • Reviewers
  • Advertisers
  • Classified Ads
  • Reprints and Translations
  • Permissions
  • Meetings
  • FAQ
  • Policies

Subscribers

  • Subscription Information
  • Purchase Subscription
  • Your Account
  • Terms and Conditions

More

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Alerts
  • My Folders
  • RSS Feeds
The Journal of Rheumatology
The content of this site is intended for health care professionals.
Copyright © 2016 by The Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Co. Ltd.
Print ISSN: 0315-162X; Online ISSN: 1499-2752
Powered by HighWire