. 2017 Apr 11;90(7):587–595. doi: 10.1007/s00420-017-1221-3

Table 3.

Association between cumulative cold exposure and symptoms

		Cumulative cold exposure
		First exposure quartile (2–5)		Second exposure quartile (6–8)		Third exposure quartile (9–11)		Forth exposure quartile (12–20)
		N	OR (95% CI)	N	OR (95% CI)	N	OR (95% CI)	N	OR (95% CI)
Frostbite in hands	♂	81	1 (–)	123	1.18 (0.88–1.58)	157	1.73 (1.31–2.30) ^a	246	2.29 (1.76–2.99) ^a
Frostbite in hands	♀	85	1 (–)	143	1.78 (1.35–2.34) ^a	152	2.61 (1.98–3.43) ^a	82	2.40 (1.75–3.28) ^a
Frostbite in feet	♂	71	1 (–)	129	1.43 (1.06–1.94) ^a	163	2.10 (1.57–2.81) ^a	213	2.23 (1.69–2.96) ^a
Frostbite in feet	♀	113	1 (–)	211	2.02 (1.59–2.56) ^a	195	2.56 (2.01–3.26) ^a	119	2.71 (2.07–3.56) ^a
Frostbite in face	♂	185	1 (–)	361	1.67 (1.37–2.04) ^a	430	2.47 (2.03–3.01) ^a	606	3.02 (2.50–3.65) ^a
Frostbite in face	♀	284	1 (–)	462	1.85 (1.57–2.18) ^a	394	2.20 (1.86–2.61) ^a	211	1.99 (1.63–2.42) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to touch	♂	64	1 (–)	85	1.02 (0.73–1.43)	91	1.23 (0.88–1.71)	179	2.05 (1.52–2.75) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to touch	♀	118	1 (–)	126	1.09 (0.84–1.42)	108	1.26 (0.96–1.65)	92	1.93 (1.45–2.57) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to warmth	♂	57	1 (–)	69	0.93 (0.65–1.33)	60	0.89 (0.62–1.29)	131	1.64 (1.19–2.26) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to warmth	♀	67	1 (–)	79	1.21 (0.87–1.69)	88	1.83 (1.32–2.54) ^a	68	2.49 (1.76–3.52) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to cold	♂	49	1 (–)	58	0.90 (0.61–1.33)	67	1.17 (0.81–1.71)	116	1.68 (1.19–2.37) ^a
Reduced sensitivity to cold	♀	61	1 (–)	66	1.10 (0.77–1.57)	54	1.20 (0.83–1.75)	43	1.68 (1.13–2.51) ^a
Swollen fingers when cold	♂	68	1 (–)	108	1.24 (0.90–1.69)	129	1.69 (1.24–2.29) ^a	187	2.02 (1.51–2.69) ^a
Swollen fingers when cold	♀	236	1 (–)	306	1.38 (1.15–1.66) ^a	290	1.83 (1.52–2.20) ^a	172	1.88 (1.52–2.33) ^a
Cold sensitivity	♂	86	1 (–)	126	1.14 (0.85–1.51)	131	1.33 (1.00–1.77) ^a	170	1.41 (1.08–1.85) ^a
Cold sensitivity	♀	239	1 (–)	263	1.15 (0.95–1.39)	251	1.52 (1.26–1.84) ^a	164	1.77 (1.42–2.20) ^a
Pain or discomfort in hands when cold	♂	168	1 (–)	251	1.18 (0.95–1.46)	270	1.46 (1.18–1.80) ^a	389	1.77 (1.45–2.17) ^a
Pain or discomfort in hands when cold	♀	410	1 (–)	528	1.42 (1.23–1.65) ^a	462	1.74 (1.50–2.04) ^a	289	1.97 (1.65–2.35) ^a
Raynaud’s phenomenon	♂	103	1 (–)	135	1.01 (0.77–1.32)	138	1.16 (0.88–1.51)	198	1.37 (1.07–1.76) ^a
Raynaud’s phenomenon	♀	198	1 (–)	303	1.66 (1.37–2.00) ^a	250	1.85 (1.52–2.26) ^a	147	1.90 (1.51–2.39) ^a

Self-estimated occupational and leisure-time cold exposure, reported on two separate ten-point numerical rating scales (NRS), has been added together to form a cumulative measurement of cold exposure ranging from 2 to 20. The data were subsequently divided into quartiles, and the first quartile is set as the reference. Associations are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)

NRS numerical rating scale, OR odds ratio, CI confidence interval

^aBold values indicate odds ratios with significant 95% confidence intervals