Raynaud’s phenomenon in the feet of Arctic open-pit miners

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Stjernbrandt, Albin, Pettersson, Hans, Vihlborg, Per, Höper, Anje Christina, Aminoff, Anna, Wahlström, Jens, Nilsson, Tohr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Umeå universitet, Avdelningen för hållbar hälsa 2024
• Subjects: Cold climate; foot-transmitted vibration; mining; Norway; peripheral nervous system diseases; Raynaud Disease; Sweden; vibration; white toes; whole-body vibration; Occupational Health and Environmental Health; Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin; Public Health; Global Health; Social Medicine and Epidemiology; Folkhälsovetenskap; global hälsa; socialmedicin och epidemiologi; Arctic; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-218867; https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2295576

The literature on Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in the feet is scarce, especially in the occupational setting. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners. As part of the MineHealth project, written surveys and clinical examinations were completed by 260 Arctic open-pit miners working in northern Sweden and Norway (participation rate 53.6%). Data on RP were collected using standardised colour charts and questionnaire items. Clinical examination included assessing the perception of vibration and pain in both feet. There were eight women and three men who reported RP in the feet. Four also had RP in their hands but none acknowledged any first-degree relatives with the condition. Nine reported exposure to foot-transmitted vibration and one to hand-arm vibration. Seven showed signs of neurosensory injury in the feet. To conclude, the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners was 4.4%. Most cases with RP in the feet did not report the condition in the hands and were exposed to vibration transmitted directly to the feet. There were no reports of a hereditary component. Most cases with RP in the feet also had clinical findings suggestive of peripheral neuropathy in the feet.