medwireNews: People with type 2 diabetes who have trigger finger are likely at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), say researchers.
In multivariate analysis, having trigger finger was associated with a more than threefold increased risk for incident CVD, report Michiaki Fukui (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan) and study co-authors.
Trigger finger, diagnosed “by palpating a thickened flexion tendon or upon the manifestation of a locking phenomenon during extension or flexion of either finger,” was present in 13.5% of 399 people with type 2 diabetes who were previously free of CVD.
Study participants with trigger finger were significantly older than those without, with a longer duration of diabetes, poorer glycemic control, and more microvascular complications. During an average 5.7 years of follow-up, the rates of incident CVD were 13.0% versus just 3.2%.
“Trigger finger is well known, and its diagnosis is relatively easy and non-invasive,” write the researchers in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
But they say that this and other manifestations of “diabetic hand” are “often ignored in the clinical settings.”
The team concludes: “Clinicians need to be aware of the prevalence of trigger finger as it is associated with a higher incidence of CVD.”
medwireNews is an independent medical news service provided by Springer Healthcare Ltd. © 2021 Springer Healthcare Ltd, part of the Springer Nature Group