Is quality of life affected by season and weather conditions in ankylosingspondylitis?

Objective To examine the links between the quality of life (QOL) and season and weather conditions in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Methods A cohort of 146 AS patients (67% males), with a mean age of 47.3 ye ars and a mean disease duration of 12.8 years, answered a self-administered questionnaire, the AS-AIMS2 validated for AS, 4 times over a period of one year in a postal survey. Clinical measures were assessed in a subsample of the cohort. Meteorological data including daily temperature, hygrometry, w ind speed and atmospheric pressure were collected over the same period Results In this cohort, 106 patients completed the follow-up. 4 higher lumb ar spine flexibility (Schober index) was associated with a higher climatic temperature and lower wind speed. Physical QOL improved in the summer, as d id Social Interaction in the summer and fall, while Role QOL decreased in w inter. A lower perceived QOL was significantly associated with a higher tem perature and rt ind speed over the past 4 weeks, and with a higher hygromet ry and atmospheric pressure over the past 2 days prior To completion of the questionnaire. Conclusion This study provides some support to the popular belief and frequ ent patient complaints of a link between health status and perceived qualit y of life, as assessed by a specific questionnaire, with season and weather conditions.