title: Color chart assisted diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon in an unselected hospital employee population.
abstract: The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in 750 subjects was assessed by questionnaire, clinical interview, and use of a chart of color photographs taken of hands during attacks of RP. Eighty-three of 600 women (13.8%) and 7 of 150 men (4.7%) reported cold induced digital color changes on the questionnaire, 76 women (12.7%) and 6 men (4%) were diagnosed as having RP at an independent clinical interview, and 3 women could not be assessed using the color chart because of defective color perception. Fifty-four of the remaining 597 women (9%) and 6 of 150 men (4%) were diagnosed as having RP when a positive response to both chart and questionnaire was required. The color chart should be useful in lessening the frequency of false-positive responses and in standardizing the diagnosis for epidemiological surveys.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Medicine and Hypertension, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA 01805.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Keeffe
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Tsapatsaris
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Beetham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003116:Color; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires