The seasons CAN affect rheumatoid arthritis symptoms says large new study

The time of year should be considered in people with rheumatoid arthritis after new findings suggest that activity in the upper and lower extremities may be highest in spring.

Almost 13,000 people in Japan whose rheumatoid arthritis activity was recorded in spring (3250), summer (916), autumn (1021) and winter (7652) were included in the study. Disease activity and the affected joint distribution was measured using standard scores.

Key findings:

• Average disease activity scores were highest in spring and lowest in autumn;
• Autumn was associated with a higher remission rate;
• Spring was associated with high rheumatoid arthritis activity;
• Winter was associated with moderate rheumatoid arthritis activity.

“Rheumatoid arthritis activity in the upper and lower extremities may be highest in spring, followed by winter,” the research group concludes in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. “Seasonal changes should be considered in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to better understand their symptoms.”#

Click here to read the original research findings.

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