Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the entire study population and according to the type of systemic sclerosis
All SSc patients (n = 570)Diffuse SSc (n = 150)Limited SSc (n = 420)p Value
Males, n (%)86 (15)28 (19)58 (14)0.15
Age (years, mean (SD))54 (13)53 (13)55 (13)0.12
Age at SSc diagnosis (years, mean (SD))48 (14)45 (14)48 (14)0.03
Time since first non-Raynaud symptom (years, mean (SD))9 (8)9 (8)8 (8)0.04*
Rodnan score (mean (SD))13 (11)25 (12)9 (5)<0.001
Prior digital ulcer(s), n (%)302 (53)91 (61)211 (50)0.02
Calcium channel blockers, n (%)237 (42%)61 (41%)176 (42%)0.78
Anti hypertensive treatment, n (%)70 (12%)35 (23%)35 (8%)<0.001
Peripheral vasodilators, n (%)78 (14%)18 (12%)60 (14%)0.48
  • Statistical tests: χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate, to compare diffuse and limited SSc for categorical variables; Student t test or ANCOVA adjusted to age for continuous variables (*). SSc, systemic sclerosis.