Lymphedema as a Meteoropathic Disease: A Preliminary Single-center Retrospective Study

Cellulitis is a significant prognostic factor for lymphedema, rendering its prevention and prediction critical for effective lymphedema management. Given the influence of climatic conditions on abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture and considering that the lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system, we hypothesized that lymphedema may be classified as a meteoropathy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the correlation between climatic conditions and the onset of cellulitis in lymphedema-affected limbs.

The clinical records of patients with lymphedema admitted for cellulitis to our institute between January 2007 and December 2017 were reviewed. Forty patients were identified, with 25 residing in the same geographic area (Yokohama City). The association between the frequency of patient admissions according to season and the meteorological data obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency database was analyzed.

The mean age of the 40 participants was 56.1 (range, 15-79) years, of whom 7 were men and 33 were women. Among the 25 patients who lived in Yokohama City, 13 were admitted in summer, whereas only one patient was admitted in winter. In summer, the temperature was higher (p = 0.0016), while the atmospheric pressure was lower (p = 0.0018) compared with the other seasons. Notably, higher temperatures and lower atmospheric pressure around the day of admission were associated with the occurrence of cellulitis.

Lymphedema may be considered a meteoropathic disease, as climatic conditions were found to be associated with cellulitis in lymphedema-affected limbs.