The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study

Abstract

BackgroundCold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a common symptom in Korea and patients with CHHF complain of coldness in the hands and feet in an environment that is not considered cold by unaffected people. In traditional East Asian medicine, CHHF is believed to be accompanied by various diseases and symptoms, and is considered a symptom that needs active treatment. CHHF is used for pattern identification in the cold pattern, yang deficiency, and constitution. This study aimed to examine the differences in frequencies of chronic diseases with respect to the presence of CHHF.MethodsDisease history, CHHF, body measurements, and blood test survey data from 6149 patients collected by 25 medical institutes in Korea were obtained from the Korean Medicine Data Center. The participants were divided into CHHF (n = 1909) and non-CHHF groups (n = 3017) according to the CHHF survey. The differences in frequencies of 18 diseases were analysed using chi-square tests, and the odds ratios (ORs) for each disease according to CHHF status were examined via logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).ResultsBased on chi-square test results, the CHHF group showed a higher frequency of the following diseases: anaemia, hypotension, chronic gastritis, reflux oesophagitis, chronic rhinitis, dysmenorrhoea, and gastroduodenal ulcer. Diseases found in lower frequencies were as follows: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia, stroke, fatty liver, and angina pectoris. In addition, from the logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, the CHHF group showed a lower OR in diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia than the non-CHHF group, but a higher OR in degenerative arthritis, chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer, reflux oesophagitis, and chronic rhinitis.ConclusionsThis study showed that CHHF is associated with chronic disease. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to validate these associations.

Are cold extremities an issue in women’s health? Epidemiological evaluation of cold extremities among Japanese women

“…In addition, checking underlying diseases and health-risk behaviors should not be omitted. Many suspicious latent diseases have been pointed out in previous studies, including chronic rhinitis, gastroduodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, sudden hearing loss, thyroid dysfunction, and ocular diseases such as normal tension glaucoma 1,8,20. As health-risk behaviors, we showed that sleep quality of women with cold extremities was poor and they have more habitual drinking.…”

“…We have examined only women but not men with cold extremities. Although Flammer syndrome occurs in both men and women,12 the prevalence of cold extremities in men was from 22% to 39% in previous studies 1,26. Considering the huge difference between the prevalence in men and women, different findings would be found in men.…”

“…There are several strengths in this study. First, this epidemiological evaluation was conducted in a general field unlike most previous studies that were carried out in clinical settings 1,26,27. In these previous studies, the prevalence of cold extremities was from 48% to 66%.…”

“…Cold extremities are perceived as an unremarkable symptom in Western medicine, and the necessity of health care services for them is not generally considered unless induced by a specific disease, such as connective tissue disease, peripheral neuropathy, and hypothyroidism 1,2. On the contrary, cold extremities are regarded as a trigger for various diseases in traditional East Asian medicine 1,3. Women with cold extremities are known to often have abnormal temperature perception or prolonged skin surface temperature recovery after mild cold stress 4–6.…”

The Relationship between Cold Hypersensitivity in the Hands and Feet and Health-Related Quality of Life in Koreans: A Nationwide Population Survey

“…CHHF is considered more important in Korean medicine and other types of traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) than in Western medicine. This is because CHHF is an important diagnostic factor in TEAM and is traditionally known to accompany several chronic symptoms and diseases, such as dyspepsia, menstrual pain, fatigue, and infertility [8, 9]. Therefore, in TEAM, CHHF is recognized as a symptom that needs to be treated proactively.…”