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Clubbing--a reevaluation of its incidence and causes
1Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate, Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India.
Abstract:
117 adult patients (age > 13 years) admitted in medical wards were studied for clubbing. 24.8% (29/117) of the patients had clubbing. Incidence of clubbing in males and females was 22.2% (26/117) and 2.6% (3/117) respectively [corrected]. Liver disease, which was seen in 27.6% cases (8/29) of clubbing, was the commonest cause of clubbing and was observed only in males. This was related to a high incidence of alcohol intake among males i.e. 34.6% (9/26) as against none among the females. Amongst the liver disease, suppurative liver disease was responsible for clubbing in 75% (6/8) of cases. Only 20.7% (6/29) of patients with clubbing had severe clubbing. 66.6% (4/6) of patients with severe clubbing had liver disease. Congenital heart disease was cause of clubbing in 2 out of 3 females (66.6%) with clubbing. Alcohol may be causally related to occurrence of clubbing in this part of the country.
Insights
Clubbing, a physical sign, was observed in 24.8% of adult patients. Liver disease, particularly in males linked to alcohol consumption, was the most frequent cause of clubbing.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Clubbing is a physical sign associated with various underlying medical conditions.
- Understanding the prevalence and causes of clubbing is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and etiological factors of digital clubbing in adult patients admitted to medical wards.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted on 117 adult patients admitted to medical wards.
- Data collection included physical examination for clubbing and assessment of potential underlying causes.
Main Results:
- Clubbing was present in 24.8% of patients, with a higher incidence in males (22.2%) than females (2.6%).
- Liver disease was the most common cause (27.6% of clubbing cases), predominantly in males and associated with alcohol intake.
- Suppurative liver disease accounted for 75% of liver disease-related clubbing. Congenital heart disease was a cause in females.
Conclusions:
- Liver disease, potentially linked to alcohol consumption, is a significant cause of clubbing in this population.
- Further research is warranted to explore the causal relationship between alcohol and clubbing in this region.