Raynaud's phenomenon in a female population: prevalence and association with other conditions.
In a random sample of 3000 women of ages eighteen to fifty-nine years in the city of Västerås, Sweden, 19% of the 2705 responders to a questionnaire complained of cold and white fingers with or without numbness. On the basis of interview and examination, 79% of these women were diagnosed as having Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), giving a prevalence of 15.6%. A significantly higher rate of family members with cold, white fingers was found only in the group of women with pronounced RP (p less than 0.001). A significantly higher frequency of women with pronounced RP than of the control group had a history of recurrent muscle/joint pain (p less than 0.05). Laboratory tests that might indicate an active connective tissue disease did not, however, confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. All three subgroups differed significantly from the control group in terms of recurrent chest pains; subgroups 2 and N differed significantly from controls in terms of recurrent headaches.
Department of Family Medicine, Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden.
J
J
Leppert
H
H
Aberg
I
I
Ringqvist
S
S
Sörensson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013548:Sweden