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. 2023 Dec 16;15(12):e50642.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.50642. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Subjective Physical Symptoms Related to Bad Weather Among Persons Undergoing Medical Check-Up: A Single-Center Observational Study

Tetsuya Akaishi  1 , Toshiaki Saito  2 , Michiaki Abe  1 , Tadashi Ishii  1
Affiliations

Subjective Physical Symptoms Related to Bad Weather Among Persons Undergoing Medical Check-Up: A Single-Center Observational Study

Tetsuya Akaishi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background and aim The prevalence and characteristics of physical complaints related to bad weather among the general population remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of subjective physical symptoms related to bad weather. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using self-reported health-related questionnaires obtained from individuals undergoing annual medical check-ups at a municipal hospital in Japan. Participants were asked about the presence and details of physical symptoms related to bad weather, together with other health-related questions. Results Among the 133 participants, 42 (32%) (95%CI 24-40) reported experiencing physical conditions related to bad weather. Among these 42 patients, the most common ailment was headache (67%; n=28), followed by low back pain (21%; n=9), fatigue (19%; n=8), and stiff neck/shoulder discomfort (12%; n=5). Comparison between individuals with and without bad weather-related conditions revealed that those affected were younger (p=0.0014) and exhibited higher numerical rating scale scores for gastrointestinal problems (p=0.0027), irritability/agitation (p<0.0001), and sleep disorders (p=0.0295). These associations were confirmed even after adjusting for age and sex. Conclusions Physical conditions related to bad weather, represented by headache, fatigue, and back pain, can be seen in 25-40% of the general population, especially in younger age groups. Individuals with these conditions are more likely to experience irritability/agitation, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disorders.

Keywords: bad weather; headache; irritability; physical symptoms; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Prevalence of bad weather-related physical conditions by age groups
The prevalence of self-reported bad weather-related physical conditions was the highest in the age group of 30–39 years (58%), followed by 20–29 years (35%). The prevalence was less than 10% in older populations aged ≥60 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Violin plots of the NRS scores by the presence of bad weather-related physical symptoms
The NRS scores for the recent workplace stress (p=0.0004), gastrointestinal problems (p=0.0027), irritability/agitation (p<0.0001), and sleep disorders (p=0.0295) in the last one month were significantly higher among those with self-reported bad weather-related physical symptoms compared to the others. NRS, Numerical Rating Scale
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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