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Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of individual characteristics (sex, age, body mass index [BMI] and smoking habits) on the tolerance time, pain ratings and rewarming time of hand cold stress testing (CST).

Methods: We included 153 subjects (63% men) working in a Swedish open-pit mine (participation rate 41%). The right hand was immersed in 3 °C circulating water for up to 45 s. Pain ratings were registered every fifth second using a visual analog scale.

Results: The tolerance time (mean ± standard deviation) was 35 ± 12 s for men and 29 ± 14 s for women (p = 0.007). The youngest age group (18–29 years) had the longest tolerance time, while the oldest group (54–65 years) had the shortest (p = 0.005). Women had significantly higher pain ratings than men after 5, 10 and 25 s. The group with the highest BMI had the shortest rewarming time (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Age and sex influenced the tolerance time of hand CST, while only sex affected the pain ratings and BMI the rewarming time. When performing CST in future studies, these parameters should be considered.