Vascular component of hand-arm vibration syndrome: a 22-year follow-up study

Vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is often assessed using the Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS) and cold challenge plethysmography. However, long-term longitudinal studies using both methods are scarce.

To study the long-term course and prognostic factors of VWF assessed with the SWS and photoplethysmography (PPG), and to examine the effects of lifestyle on PPG score, regardless of VWF status.

Forty male construction workers were examined with a test battery and clinical examination in 1994 and 2016/17.

At baseline, the sample comprised 27 workers with, and 13 without, symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Thirty-five workers reported vibration exposure during follow-up. The mean age of the workers was 60 years (45-78) at follow-up. The paired t-test showed that PPG scores deteriorated from 1994 to 2017 in the 27 workers with HAVS in 1994 (mean difference 2.7 min, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2-5.2). However, there was no statistically significant change in SWS scores in these workers over time. Smoking and age were associated with PPG score deterioration. Vibration exposure during follow-up predicted SWS score deterioration: 1000 h of exposure predicted a deterioration stage of 0.09 (95% CI 0.03-0.16). Analysis of all 40 workers showed that 2017 PPG scores were associated with positive serum cotinine and self-reported smoking during follow-up.

Whereas age and smoking predicted a PPG deterioration, continued vibration exposure predicted worsening of white finger symptoms. The association of PPG score and smoking should be considered in diagnostic and prognostic factor evaluations.