Occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in children ages 12–15 years: Prevalence and association with other common symptoms

Abstract

Objective. Although Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in adults is frequently reported as having been present since childhood, there have been no studies on the prevalence of RP in children. This study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of RP in children ages 12-15 years and to determine whether, as with other commonly reported symptoms, there were any associations with adverse psychosocial factors. Methods. A previously validated selfadministered RP questionnaire was distributed to 903 children ages 12-15 years, from 28 schools. The questionnaire also included questions on other common childhood symptoms and on adverse psychosocial factors.Results. Seven hundred twenty children responded (80%), in whom the prevalence of RP was 15%. This was higher in girls (18% versus 12%) and increased with age. After adjustment for age and sex, there was an association with reporting of current pain, both in the arm/shoulder region and elsewhere in the body. There were no associations with psychosocial variables.Conclusion. RP is frequent in children ages 12-15 years. Unlike other common childhood symptoms, RP showed no association with psychosocial factors in this study.Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a vasospastic disorder characterized by episodic color changes of blanching, cyanosis, and hyperemia in response to cold (1,2). It is frequently considered to be idiopathic, though it may be secondary to a number of different disease processes (3). Such processes, such as connective tissue diseases, are rare in the population. In contrast, population studies have shown that RP in adults is common, with prevalence estimates ranging from 4% to 30% (4-7). However, findings of all studies are consistent in suggesting a female excess (7-9). There have been no studies of the prevalence of RP in children, although the self-reported range of onset age in adults with RP frequently implies a childhood onset. Childhood is also a period in which other symptoms are frequently reported but are often considered to be of little, or unknown, pathologic significance, for example, limb pain, abdominal pain, headache (10-12). Such symptoms may be related to psychosocial factors: in a recent study of schoolchildren ages 11-14 years, we demonstrated that low back pain was more strongly associated with psychosocial and behavioral problems than with mechanical factors (13). The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of RP in children ages 12-15 years and its relationship to age and sex. We also investigated whether psychosocial factors, known to be associated with other childhood symptoms, were associated with RP. SUBJECTS AND METHODSStudy design. This was a cross-sectional prevalence study of RP in schoolchildren. Using validated instruments, we

Prevalence, risk factors and associations of primary Raynaud's phenomenon: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

“…Sixty-seven per cent of the studies involved participants recruited in a community-based setting. The majority of studies were conducted in Europe (18) 6 9 19 22 24 26 27 29 30 32 33 35–37 39 41–43 or the USA (10), 7 8 10 11 20 21 23 38 40 44 however, other countries of origin included Japan (2), 25 28 New Zealand (1) 34 and Israel (1). 45 One comparison study included participants from the USA and France.…”

Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Pediatrics

“…In both primary and secondary RP, monophasic color changes are more common than biphasic or triphasic changes (). No seasonal or psychosocial factors have been shown to influence the reporting of RP symptoms, at least in older children (). In children ages 12–15 years, a relationship with pain including in the arm/shoulder region has been reported ().…”

“…No seasonal or psychosocial factors have been shown to influence the reporting of RP symptoms, at least in older children (). In children ages 12–15 years, a relationship with pain including in the arm/shoulder region has been reported (). Pediatricians need to be aware that while RP is not uncommon (and is being increasingly recognized) in children and is usually benign primary (idiopathic) RP, RP may be the presenting feature of an underlying CTD.…”

Nailfold capillaroscopy microscopy - an interdisciplinary appraisal

“…In the U.K., a study of 720 children aged 12 to 15 years found a prevalence of 12 % in boys and 18 % in girls using a selfadministered questionnaire, whereas in the same population a prevalence of 8.3 % for adult men and 17.6 % of adult women was published [33,34].…”