Increased lipid levels increase probability of development of Trigger Finger

Trigger finger, a condition known for causing pain and stiffness in the fingers, especially among people aged 50 to 60 years, has been a source of discomfort for many. A new breakthrough published in the Public Library of Science has shed light on a potential cause of this common ailment, as a large-scale population-based study suggests that hyperlipidemia may be linked to trigger finger.

Trigger finger, also referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis, affects approximately 3% of the general population. Its primary symptoms include pain, locking, or tightness at the base of one or more fingers. Often, the thumb and fourth finger are the most affected. Patients commonly report a popping or catching sensation when extending their fingers from a flexed position, accompanied by the presence of a palpable nodule during physical examination.

Pei-Tsen Chen and team conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using longitudinal data from 2000 to 2013. The study included 41,421 patients with hyperlipidemia and 82,842 age- and sex-matched individuals in the control cohort, with an average age of approximately 50 years.

The results of the study revealed a compelling correlation between hyperlipidemia and trigger finger. After adjusting for potential comorbidities, the researchers found that the hazard ratio of trigger finger in the hyperlipidemia cohort was 4.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.57–4.55). The correlation was further broken down by gender, with male patients showing a hazard ratio of 4.59 (95% CI, 3.67–5.73) and female patients a hazard ratio of 3.77 (95% CI, 3.26–4.36). These findings suggest that the association between hyperlipidemia and trigger finger is consistent across both sexes, albeit slightly more pronounced in males.

The exact mechanism by which hyperlipidemia contributes to trigger finger remains uncertain. However, the researchers hypothesize that elevated lipid levels might lead to reduced blood supply in the distal fingers, promoting inflammation. This inflammation could hinder the smooth gliding of the flexor tendon within the tendon sheath, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of trigger finger. For individuals with hyperlipidemia, it may be prudent to be vigilant about any symptoms related to trigger finger and seek medical advice promptly if concerns arise.

Source:

Chen, P.-T., Zhang, H.-W., Tsai, Z.-R., Peng, H.-C., Lin, Y.-S., Tsai, J. J. P., & Lin, C.-W. (2023). Association between hyperlipidemia and trigger finger: A nationwide population-based cohort study. In P. Chaudhary (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 18, Issue 7, p. e0288426). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288426