HOT and cold outdoor temperatures significantly worsen Raynaud’s phenomenon in patients with systemic sclerosis. This is according to new research conducted by the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) that highlights the importance of temperature management for patients with scleroderma.
Raynaud’s phenomenon, often triggered by cold, affects blood circulation, leading to numbness and pain, especially in the hands and feet. This recently published study analyzed over 20,000 severity assessments from 2,243 participants, making it the largest to date examining how outdoor temperature influences symptom severity in systemic sclerosis.
The results show that Raynaud’s severity peaks at extreme cold, particularly at -25°C, where patients reported an average severity score of 6.8 out of 10. Notably, symptoms also worsened in hot weather, with severity rising again above 35°C. These findings suggests that extreme heat, potentially due to air conditioning exposure, is also a significant trigger.
Beyond emphasizing the need to avoid cold exposure, healthcare providers should advise patients to take caution in hot environments by minimizing air conditioning exposure or using protective clothing to maintain a stable body temperature.
With Raynaud’s symptoms worsening at both temperature extremes, doctors should be mindful of environmental factors when designing treatment plans. Temperature-controlled environments, along with medication, may help improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with systemic sclerosis and Raynaud’s.
Reference: Vergili-Gervais G et al. The association of outdoor temperature and self-reported Raynaud’s phenomenon severity among people with systemic sclerosis: a Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort study. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024;6(10):e684 – e692.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
