Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies
Published on: October 22, 2014
An epidemiological study estimating the burden of cancer risk in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon
Michael Hughes1,2,3, Edward Jude4,5,6, Zsuzsanna H McMahan7
1Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Science, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. Michael.hughes-6@manchester.ac.uk.
Introduction/Objective:
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a common vasospastic condition that may develop secondary to cancer and/or in association with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). We aimed to estimate the risk of cancer in RP without known SARDs, phenotypically akin to 'primary' RP.
Methods:
A cohort study using data from North American electronic healthcare organization records. RP was defined using ≥ 2 ICD (I73.0) codes, excluding SARDs. Comparators had ≥ 2 irritable bowel syndrome ICD (K58) codes: selected with similar epidemiology to RP, and without any known excess in cancer risk. Cohorts were stratified by age (< 45 and ≥ 45 years). Our primary outcome was any cancer event. Secondary outcomes were rates of specific cancers: head and neck, digestive, thorax, skin, breast, haematological, male/female genital. Risk of each outcome was compared using 1:1 propensity score-matched Cox proportional hazard models.
Results:
Among 34,582 (< 45 years) and 68,836 (≥ 45 years) matched pairs, the hazard ratio (HR) of any cancer was higher in RP: < 45 [1.11 (1.03, 1.19)] and ≥ 45 [1.08 (1.05, 1.11)]. Cancer-specific risks were calculated. RP was associated in both age groups with increased risk of thorax (HR 2.077 & 1.433), skin (HR 1.202 &1.213), and haematological (HR 1.647 & 1.338) cancers. RP was associated with decreased risk of digestive cancer (HR 0.686 & 0.894).
Conclusion:
RP was associated with an increased risk of cancer, independent of age. We also describe varying cancer-specific risks. Future research is warranted to confirm and explore these novel observations, including potentially shared pathobiological mechanisms. Key Points • RP was associated with an overall increased risk of all cancers in younger (<45years) and older (≥45 years) individuals. • There was an increased risk of certain (e.g., thorax, skin, and haematological) cancers with RP. • A reduced risk of cancer was also noted for certain cancers, especially GI-related. • Future research should confirm and explore these observations, including the pathobiology underpinning potential cancer risk in RP.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Relative Risk
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Cancer Survival Analysis
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment

