ORIGINAL PAPER
The influence of weather on articular complaints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of the present work was estimation of influence of temperatures, air humidity and atmospheric pressure on complaints of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In investigation participated 50 outpatients derived from urban environment. Baseline examination included: physical examination and that of the locomotor system and basic laboratory tests. Then, for a fortnight, every evening, patients filled questionnaire HAQ and scale VAS, estimating intensity of pain of joints and degree of difficulty in performing everyday activities. Patients’ complaints were correlated with the data obtained from Meteorology Institute. The results obtained in static and dynamic conditions were analyzed. RA patients were found to estimate worse their disease, when air temperature was higher than mean value in the period studied. Pains of joints increased and became worse estimation of disease in periods of constant temperature and relative humidity, and during of greater changes of atmospheric pressure. No relation between difficulties in performing everyday activities and atmospheric conditions or change of them was found.
The present work confirmed conviction, that RA patients have sensibility on prevalent atmospherical conditions.