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Preliminary study indicates possible connection between chronic pain and weather conditions
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An interim analysis of individuals with chronic pain living in the United Kingdom showed a possible link between weather conditions and chronic pain.
In January 2016, Rebecca Barnard, project support officer with the project Cloudy with a Chance of Pain, and her colleagues began collecting data on the frequency of chronic pain in more than 9,000 participants aged 17 years and older living in the United Kingdom.
From February 2016 to April 2016, the researchers found participants living in the England cities of Norwich, Leeds and London experienced a reduction in pain as the number of sunny days increased. The preliminary findings also showed that as the sunny days decreased in June, participants experienced more pain.
“There were fewer hours of sunshine experienced in June, but it was also warmer weather,” Barnard told Healio.com/Rheumatology. “So we basically think at the moment that there is a suggestion that maybe levels of rainfall, when it is wet, people may experience more pain and sunshine, when people are spending more hours in the sun, that might be connected to reduced pain.”
Barnard noted the research continues through July 2017 and she and her colleagues hope to provide a clearer answer to whether chronic pain is associated with the weather.
“We do think that there is possibly a relationship between weather and pain and what we have so far is exciting, but unless we have enough people giving us consistent data over the next 6 months or so, we will not be able to give people a clear answer,” Barnard said. – by Casey Tingle
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Disclosure: Barnard reports no relevant financial disclosures.