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Raynaud's phenomenon: prevalence in an Italian population sample

Clinical Rheumatology volume 25, pages 506–510 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in an Italian population aged 18 years and above, a validated questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 3,664 subjects. Sociodemographic data and data regarding the prevalence of RP symptoms were collected. Trained rheumatologists carried out a subsequent standardized clinical examination to confirm diagnosis of RP and to detect associated diseases. The subjects (2,155) completed the questionnaire, with 45 reporting RP [prevalence rate 2.1%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.8–2.4]. The mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 57.5 (12.7), and 40 (88.8%) were women. Prevalence was found higher in women (3.4%, 95% CI 2.8–4.1) than in men (0.5%, 95% CI 0.2–0.9) (p<0.0001). A connective tissue disease was diagnosed in six (0.28%) subjects, three of the participants (0.14%) were identified as having RP associated to an idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, and 36 (1.67%) were diagnosed as having primary RP. Our study has found a lower prevalence of RP than others have reported. There is thought to be an association with climate and ethnic factors. No relationship was found regarding factors that are thought to be among the most relevant triggering factors for RP, e.g., occupational exposure. Differences with previous studies may be related to the current characteristics of the population surveyed.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the GPs of the cities involved in the study. The MAPPING study was partly supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, Italy. Pfizer neither provided funding to authors for preparation of the manuscript nor influenced the manuscript content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Patologia Molecolare e Terapie Innovative, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Marches, Italy

    Fausto Salaffi & Walter Grassi

  2. Clinica Reumatologica, Ospedale “Augusto Murri”, via dei Colli, 52, 60035, Jesi, (AN), Italy

    Rossella De Angelis

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  1. Rossella De Angelis
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  2. Fausto Salaffi
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  3. Walter Grassi
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Correspondence to Rossella De Angelis.

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De Angelis, R., Salaffi, F. & Grassi, W. Raynaud's phenomenon: prevalence in an Italian population sample. Clin Rheumatol 25, 506–510 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0077-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0077-1

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Raynaud's phenomenon