How can severe weather events impact autoimmune patients?
Recently, various parts of the world have experienced an increase in extreme weather events, including heat waves, wildfires, and storms, which have caused power outages, air pollution, and floods. These weather events have a significant impact on individuals with autoimmune diseases, with 12% of survey participants reporting that their worst flare-up occurred within 90 days of the event, according to a research poster presented by the Autoimmune Association.
Dr. Iazsmin Bauer Ventura stated, "We are seeing, particularly in the last 30 years, a very abrupt increase in the number of patients being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases," and also found that the immune system is creating antibodies it's not supposed to be producing.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine conducted an online survey of 155 respondents to examine the incidence of flares from July 2022 to the present following severe weather events.
The most common trigger for a flare-up was improper medication storage caused by power outages. Other factors contributing to flares included stress, increased air particulate matter, gut biome disruption, and medication shortage.
Severe weather events were also found to take a toll on patients' mental health, as 66% of weather events led to increased anxiety or stress. Of those experiencing their worst flares, 15% required ER visits, while 6% required hospitalization. Researchers also found that patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and rheumatoid arthritis were more likely to experience flares in the 90 days following a severe weather event. Researchers are now expanding on the survey by releasing a Spanish version to patients.
To support the Autoimmune Registry, please share our information with others who have autoimmune diseases. Donations are also greatly appreciated!
