Who Is at Risk for Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Who Is at Risk for Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Doctors do not know why the fascia in the palm of the hand becomes abnormal in people with Dupuytren’s contracture, but it tends to run in families. Here’s what else you should know:
- The disease rarely starts before age 40, but becomes more common with increasing age.
- People whose ancestors are from Scandinavia or other areas in northern Europe are at the highest risk. Two-thirds of men who are related to people with Depuytren’s contracture develop the condition. Having diabetes is another risk factor.
- Men may be at as much as 15 times greater risk than women. However, because women tend to get a milder form of the disease, they may simply not be diagnosed as often as men.
- Although drinking alcohol and cigarettes have both been linked to Dupuytren’s in a few studies, altering habits does not appear to modify the disease.
One factor that does not seem to increase your risk is working with your hands or having a hand injury.