Impact of Climate Change on Rheumatology Care: A Global Perspective

The global climate crisis is a health crisis that impacts both rheumatology patients and providers. Extreme weather events and pollution impact health care access, infrastructure, medication availability and efficacy, and disease activity. Rheumatologists and patients with rheumatic disease have faced these climate change-related challenges worldwide with limited support systems in place. In this narrative review, we present perspectives of rheumatologists from 5 countries representing Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America, who have navigated the drivers and consequences of climate change. Uniting lived experience with existing evidence, we discuss suggestions for climate adaptation to foster resilient global rheumatology practice.