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International Orthopaedics
Published in: International Orthopaedics 3/2012

01-03-2012 | Original Paper

Influence of weather variables on pain severity in end-stage osteoarthritis

Authors: Stephen A. Brennan, Thomas Harney, Joseph M. Queally, Jade O’Connor McGoona, Isobel C. Gormley, Fintan J. Shannon

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Patients often attribute increasing pain in an arthritic joint to changing weather patterns. Studies examining the impact of weather on pain severity have yielded equivocal and sometimes contradictory results. The relationship between subchondral pseudocysts and the role they play in this phenomenon has not been explored.

Methods

Fifty-three patients with end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip completed daily pain severity visual analogue scale (VAS) scores over a one month period. Radiographs were reviewed to determine the presence of pseudocysts. Data pertaining to precipitation, atmospheric pressure and temperature were collected from the nearest weather station. A generalised linear mixed model was used to explore the relationship between weather variables, cysts and pain severity.

Results

Pain levels increased as a function of absolute change in atmospheric pressure from one day to the next. Precipitation, temperature and the presence of subchondral pseudocysts were not shown to influence pain severity.

Conclusions

This data supports the belief held by many osteoarthritic patients that changing weather patterns influence their pain severity.
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Metadata
Title
Influence of weather variables on pain severity in end-stage osteoarthritis
Authors
Stephen A. Brennan
Thomas Harney
Joseph M. Queally
Jade O’Connor McGoona
Isobel C. Gormley
Fintan J. Shannon
Publication date
01-03-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1304-9

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