title: Prevalence of calcific deposits within the rotator cuff tendons in adults with and without subacromial pain syndrome: clinical and radiologic analysis of 1219 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcific tendinopathy is one of the most frequent causes of pain in the shoulder and is characterized by the presence of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff; however, calcific deposits have also been described in asymptomatic individuals. Only a few authors have reported epidemiologic data on the prevalence of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzed clinical and radiological data of 1219 adults with and without subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) to assess the prevalence of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff. Multivariate analysis was used to define risk factors associated with the presence of symptomatic calcific tendinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calcific deposits were found in the rotator cuff of 57 of 734 asymptomatic patients (7.8%). Of 485 patients with SAPS, 42.5% had calcific deposits. Age between 30 and 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 8.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-26.3; P < .001), subacromial pain (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 5.1-9.9, P < .001), and female gender (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0; P = .014) were significantly associated with increased odds of calcific deposits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that women aged between 30 and 60 years with SAPS and a calcific deposit of >1.5 cm in length have the highest chance of suffering from symptomatic calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff. The prevalence rates of 7.8% in asymptomatic patients and 42.5% in patients with SAPS provide a current view on the epidemiology of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff.
authors: Research Center Linnaeus Institute, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jlouwerens@spaarneziekenhuis.nl.
authors: Jan K G
authors: JK
authors: Louwerens
authors: Research Center Linnaeus Institute, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors: Inger N
authors: IN
authors: Sierevelt
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors: Ruud P
authors: RP
authors: van Hove
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Michel P J
authors: MP
authors: van den Bekerom
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: van Noort
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012737:Sex Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Calcific tendinopathy; epidemiology; prevalence; risk factors; subacromial pain syndrome