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Abstract Number: 0196

The Impact of Barometric Pressure Waves on Connective Tissue Disorders

Fehmida Zahabi1 and Kevin Kerr2, 1Texas Rheumatology Care, Plano, TX, 2Chimera Innovations LLC, Allen, TX

Meeting: ACR Convergence 2022

Keywords: Biomechanics, Disability, education, patient, Environmental factors, pain

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Session Information

Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022

Title: Patient Outcomes, Preferences, and Attitudes Poster I

Session Type: Poster Session A

Session Time: 1:00PM-3:00PM

Background/Purpose: Pain is a disabling, depressing state which reduces an individual’s productivity. Weather changes have been vaguely attributed to cause pain. Previous studies have had inconclusive results.

We decided to focus on barometric pressure, since weather patterns are a by-product of barometric pressure waves. Additionally we wanted to demonstrate barometric pressure changes that would trigger a person to the next level on the Wong -Baker faces pain scale. We created a mobile application, ARTHRITIS PAIN RADAR, which uses an algorithmic methodology for data collection and machine learning to determine a person’s tolerance to barometric pressure changes and therefore, pain.

Methods: The study group consists of 500 randomly chosen individuals using the Arthritis Pain Radar application on a daily basis. Once an individual starts the Arthritis Pain Radar application, barometric pressure levels are collected at their location. The person inputs the pain levels and affected body parts on a modified homunculus. Using machine learning, pain projections are made on an hourly basis over the next 3 days factoring speed, intensity and direction of barometric pressure waves. This data is validated against the individuals pain status. Arthritis pain radar application and cloud machine learning is used to calculate pain tolerance and eventually better target pain alerts on the application.

Over the course of 7 days, using machine learning, a determination is made as to the barometric pressure changes which pushes the patient to the next ascending or descending pain level. The correlation of pain level to barometric pressure changes Is bidirectional.

Results: Our global data shows 4 millibars is the average tipping point to alter pain levels in one position in either direction. We also demonstrate that barometric pressure changes are valid causes of change in the level of pain for patients with connective tissue disorders.

Conclusion: Previous studies have focused on various weather attributes as the reason for pain; this caused conflicting and confusing results. We have demonstrated that barometric pressure changes can impact pain levels irrespective of ambient temperature, humidity, or precipitation.

The application has validated our premise that changes in barometric pressure are the singular weather attribute for pain.

The use of the application ARTHRITIS PAIN RADAR, provides pain alerts to individuals which facilitates day-to-day predictability.

Supporting image 1

Arthritis Pain Radar User Interface

Supporting image 2

User Reported vs Predicted Pain Level

Supporting image 3

Reported Pain Level 4 by body part


Disclosures: F. Zahabi, None; K. Kerr, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Zahabi F, Kerr K. The Impact of Barometric Pressure Waves on Connective Tissue Disorders [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022; 74 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/the-impact-of-barometric-pressure-waves-on-connective-tissue-disorders/. Accessed .
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All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

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