DOI: 10.30565/medalanya.1735022 ISSN: 2587-0319

The Impact of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain Perception in Patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

Handan Yarkan Tuğsal, Özlem Kılıç
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Aim: The influence of weather on musculoskeletal pain remains controversial, particularly in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). This study aimed to evaluate whether patients with pSS perceive joint pain changes in relation to weather conditions and to identify clinical factors associated with weather sensitivity.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 102 patients with pSS and articular involvement (per 2016 ACR/EULAR criteria). First, they completed a structured questionnaire covering demographics, comorbidities, and weather-related joint pain changes. Next, symptom burden was assessed using the ESSPRI; disease activity and presence of hand osteoarthritis (OA) were also documented. Then, the patients were categorized based on whether they perceived their joint pain as weather-sensitive. Finally, comparative analyses, correlation tests, and logistic regression were performed.Results: Weather sensitivity was reported by 38.2% of patients. Warm weather was most frequently associated with pain relief (31.4%), while cold weather most often associated with pain exacerbated (24.5%). Patients who were sensitive to weather were younger and had higher BMIs, as well as higher ESSPRI total, pain, and dryness scores (p < 0.05). OA, diabetes, and hypertension were also more prevalent. In multivariate analysis, osteoarthritis (OR: 29.5, 95% CI:18.78–99.11) and ESSPRI pain scores (OR:1.43, 95% CI:1.10–1.86) were found to be independently associated with weather sensitivity. Higher pain severity and symptom burden were correlated with increased sensitivity, Conversely, younger age was associated with greater pain relief under favorable weather conditions.Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with pSS report that cold weather worsens their joint pain. Osteoarthritis and pain intensity are strong predictors of weather sensitivity, suggesting both structural and perceptual contributors. Recognizing these factors may support individualized symptom management.

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