Prevalence of weather sensitivity in Germany

Background and objective: As epidemioligical data on prevalence of weather-related health effects were lacking we conducted a weather sensitivity (WS) survey in Germany. Subjects and methods: A total of 1064 citizens (age>16) representative of the population in Germany were interviewed in January 2001. Results: The results show that 19.2% of the population believe that weather influences their health to a much greater thanhigh degreemuch less than, 35.3% that weather has much greater thansome influence on their healthmuch less than. The highest prevalence of WS (high + some influence) is found in the age group of >60 years, in 68% of the subjects. The highest frequencies of weather-related symptoms are reported for stormy weather (30%) and when it gets colder (29%). The most frequent symptoms reported by weather-sensitive subjects are headaches/migraine (61%), lethargy (47%), sleep disturbances (46%), fatigue (42%), joint pain (40%), irritation (31%), depression (27%), vertigo (26%), concentration problems (26%) and scar pain (23%). 32% of the weather-sensitive subjects have been incapable to do their regular work because of weather-related symptoms at least once last year, 22% even several times. Co-morbidity was significantly higher in weather-sensitive subjects. Consequence: On the basis of these data we are planning studies on causal factors of weather-related health effects.