Average Age of Onset of Raynaud's Phenomenon
Primary Raynaud's phenomenon typically begins between ages 15-40, with the average age of onset around 40 years, while secondary Raynaud's associated with connective tissue diseases presents at an average age of 41.7 years. 1, 2
Age Distribution by Type
Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon
- The average age of first manifestation is 40 years (range 3-80 years), with most cases appearing before age 40 1
- Primary Raynaud's is generally a disease of younger females, though late-onset cases can present after age 40 3
- The condition affects 5-20% of the European population and predominantly occurs in young and middle-aged women 1, 4
Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon
- The mean age at onset of secondary Raynaud's is 41.7 years, with the average age at time of etiologic diagnosis being 47.3 years 2
- There is typically a delay of approximately 41 months between symptom onset and first consultation 2
Gender and Demographic Patterns
- Women are affected 4 times more often than men across all age groups 1
- The female predominance is consistent in both primary and secondary forms 5, 4
Clinical Significance of Age at Onset
Late-onset Raynaud's (presenting after age 40) should be treated as a distinct entity with different characteristics on functional examination 3. These patients demonstrate:
- Significantly different hand perfusion patterns on Tc-99m DTPA scintigraphy compared to early-onset cases 3
- A correlation between disease duration and decreased finger/palm perfusion ratio 3
Red Flags for Secondary Disease
When Raynaud's presents in older patients (over 60 years), it is commonly a result of atherosclerotic obstructive arterial disease rather than primary Raynaud's, warranting screening for cardiovascular risk factors 5.