Warmer is better

By Sathya Achia Abraham
January 26, 2010

Research suggests sickle cell-related pain intensifies during seasonably colder weather.

The debilitating pain experienced by people with sickle cell disease becomes more intense when temperatures drop in the fall and winter months, according to a multi-center study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researcher.

For years, clinicians have routinely advised patients with sickle cell disease to dress warmly and avoid extremes of temperature, especially cold weather, based on laboratory evidence that more red blood cells undergo sickling with temperature changes.

According to lead author Wally R. Smith, M.D., professor of medicine and chair of the Division of Quality Health Care, the team has found for the first time that pain in adults with sickle cell disease is affected by climate and geographic location.

“This research confirms pain is worse in fall and winter, better in spring and summer, and pain is worse in colder climates. This has public health and policy implications since advice to patients to dress warmly and avoid extremes of cold can now be stronger,” said Smith, who is scientific director of the Center on Health Disparities at VCU.

“Similarly, the fact that cold weather does affect these patients’ health should be disseminated to employees, employers and schools, and could potentially be used in disability determinations for these patients,” he added.