[Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in individuals not using vibrating tools]

Vibration syndrome, especially Raynaud's phenomenon, has generally been observed in vibrating tool operators, but the frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon in individuals not using vibrating tools is unknown. The authors therefore conducted a survey on the prevalence of stiffness of hands, numbness of fingers, and Raynaud's phenomenon among the examinees of Gifu Prefectural Health Care Center and among the female students of Gifu Prefectural Nursing and Paradental School. The following results were obtained by this survey. 1. Prevalences of stiffness of hands, numbness of fingers and Raynaud's phenomenon in female students were 20.9%, 29.5% and 4.6%, respectively, which are 2-3 times higher than those in male adults. 2. The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in female students aged 20-24 yr was equal to that of female adults aged 30-39. It was higher than that of those aged 18-19, 40-49 and 50-59. The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in males did not show any difference by age group. 3. There was no occupational specificity in the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon, but the prevalences in male sales workers and in female professional and technical workers were higher than in other groups.