How common is Raynaud's disease?
Raynaud's disease is quite common.
Between 3 in 100 and 5 in 100 people have it and it is much more common in places with cold weather.1 2 3 4 Women are slightly more likely to be affected than men.
Most people with Raynaud's start to have attacks when they are teenagers.5
Sources for the information on this page:
- Palmer KT, Griffin MJ, Syddall H, et al. Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in Great Britain and its relation to hand transmitted vibration: A national postal survey. Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2000; 57: 488-452.
- Inaba R, Maeda M, Fujita S, et al. Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon and specific clinical signs related to progressive systemic sclerosis in the general population of Japan. International Journal of Dermatology. 1993; 32: 652-655.
- Riera G, Vilardell M, Vaque J, et al. Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in a healthy Spanish population. The Journal of Rheumatology. 1993; 20: 66-69.
- Rodriguez Garcia JL, Sabin Ruiz J. Raynaud's phenomenon. Revista clÃnica española. 1989; 184: 311-321.
- Wigley FM. Raynaud's phenomenon. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
This information was last updated in Oct 04, 2007
![]() |
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |











