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Table 3 Hand pain compared to low back pain

From: Pain chronification and the important role of non-disease-specific symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis

Differences in main pain localization

Hand pain (n = 50)

Low back pain (n = 19)

Age (years)

55.4 ± 14.5

59.0 ± 13.1

Subset of disease manifestation

 Very early

6/50 (12.0%)

6/19 (31.6%)

 Mild

12/50 (24.0%)

5/19 (26.3%)

 Established

32/50 (64.0%)

8/19 (42.1%)

Cochin Hand Function Scale

7.0 (0, 20), n = 35

0.0 (0, 5), n = 14

mRSS

3.5 (0, 16), n = 50

2.0 (0, 7), n = 19

Disease characteristics

 Active digital ulcers

9/50 (18.0%)

2/19 (10.5%)

 Previous digital ulcers

17/50 (34.0%)

4/19 (21.1%)

 Joint synovitis

14/50 (28.0%)

4/19 (21.1%)

 Clinical signs of arthritis on the hands

7/43 (16.3%)

1/15 (6.7%)

 Joint contractures

25/43 (58.1%)

2/11 (18.2%)

 Tendon friction rubs

5/49 (10.2%)

0/19 (0.0%)

 Subcutaneous calcinosis of the hands

6/42 (14.3%)

0/15 (0.0%)

  1. Variables are presented as mean ± SD for normal distribution or as median with the 1st and 3rd quartiles (Q1, Q3) for non-normal distribution. Frequencies are shown as x/y: x = number of patients with item present, y = numbers of patients with accessible data; missing values can be calculated n − y
  2. mRSS modified Rodnan Skin Score, n number, SD standard deviation