title: The Weather and Ménière's Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis in the UK.
abstract: Changes in the weather influence symptom severity in Ménière's disease (MD).
  
  
  
  MD is an unpredictable condition that significantly impacts on quality of life. It is suggested that fluctuations in the weather, especially atmospheric pressure may influence the symptoms of MD. However, to date, limited research has investigated the impact of the weather on MD.
  
  
  
  In a longitudinal study, a mobile phone application collected data from 397 individuals (277 females and 120 males with an average age of 50 yr) from the UK reporting consultant-diagnosed MD. Daily symptoms (vertigo, aural fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, and attack prevalence) and GPS locations were collected; these data were linked with Met Office weather data (including atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature, visibility, and wind speed).
  
  
  
  Symptom severity and attack prevalence were reduced on days when atmospheric pressure was higher. When atmospheric pressure was below 1,013 hectopascals, the risk of an attack was 1.30 (95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.54); when the humidity was above 90%, the risk of an attack was 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.06, 1.49).
  
  
  
  This study provides the strongest evidence to date that changes in atmospheric pressure and humidity are associated with symptom exacerbation in MD. Improving our understanding of the role of weather and other environmental triggers in Ménière's may reduce the uncertainty associated with living with this condition, significantly contributing to improved quality of life.
authors.affiliation: *European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall †Met Office ‡Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter §Department of ENT Surgery, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall, UK ||Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarran
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ronan
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Whinney
authors.forename: Lora E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D006113:United Kingdom; D014887:Weather