Work

Does weather matter? Exploring associations between season and meteorological factors and psoriatic arthritis disease activity

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective To investigate the associations between season and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) disease activity, and whether certain meteorological factors are associated with these seasonal differences. Secondary objectives include assessing associations between season and mood.Methods A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted including 935 patients with PsA from the Dutch South West Psoriatic Arthritis cohort from 2013 to 2023. Disease activity was assessed using Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) and Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) at diagnosis (baseline) and over 3 years of follow-up. Season was assessed during the month of each visit, and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, sunshine duration) were assessed during the day of and week and month before the visit, using data from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Mood was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results At diagnosis, there was no significant difference in PsA incidence and disease activity (PASDAS and DAPSA) between seasons. During follow-up, the multivariable analyses showed higher DAPSA in winter (β 2.59; 95% CI 0.74 to 4.43), spring (β 1.95; 95% CI 0.001 to 3.90) and autumn (β 1.93; 95% CI 0.17 to 3.69) compared with summer. Analyses of DAPSA subcomponents showed significantly higher Visual Analog Scale (VAS) patient pain and global assessment in autumn and higher swollen joint count 66 and C-reactive protein in winter compared with summer. Season was not significantly associated with PASDAS, nor with mood. Meteorological factors were not significantly associated with PASDAS and DAPSA.Conclusion Season was associated with PsA disease activity, being lower in summer. Meteorological factors were not associated with PsA disease activity in our study sample.

Source: RMD Open

DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2026-006967