Can Weather factors influence pain and inflammation in patients with gout?

A recent meta-analysis highlights that the changes in weather factors does not increase the risk of knee, hip, or low back pain symptoms. This comprehensive review was published in the journal of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism and challenged the common beliefs about the relationship between weather and conditions like arthritis, knee pain and back pain.

The study by Manuela Ferreira and team analyzed data from 11 case-crossover studies that involved over 15,000 participants. These studies investigated the transient risk of musculoskeletal health events associated with various weather parameters such as temperature, humidity, air pressure and precipitation.

The findings of this study suggest that weather might not be as significant a factor in musculoskeletal health as previously thought. The pooled analyses revealed no significant association between weather factors and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, knee pain or low back pain. The meta-analysis found that high temperatures combined with low humidity were associated with increased pain, redness, and joint swelling in individuals with gout. This suggests that weather may indeed play a role in specific musculoskeletal conditions.

This research emphasized the importance of evidence-based medicine in dispelling myths around weather and musculoskeletal health. Also, changes in weather factors do not influence the risk factors for most common musculoskeletal conditions despite the anecdotal reports from patients. However, the findings of this study highlight the significant influence of weather in gout disease. Further research on this subject is imperative to explore the complexities of weather and it's impact on the musculoskeletal health, including the potential interactions with individual genetics and lifestyle factors.

Source:

Ferreira, M. L., Hunter, D. J., Fu, A., Raihana, S., Urquhart, D., & Ferreira, P. H. (2024). Come rain or shine: Is weather a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis of case-crossover studies. In Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (Vol. 65, p. 152392). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152392