Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population. Occup Environ Med 1997 Oct;54(10):734-40
Date
12/24/1997Pubmed ID
9404321Pubmed Central ID
PMC1128928DOI
10.1136/oem.54.10.734Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0030768999 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 148 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the individual, physical, and psychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population.
METHODS: Population based case-control study in Marshfield epidemiological study area in Wisconsin, USA. Cases were men and women aged 18-69 with newly diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 206 (83.1%) of 248 eligible). Controls were a random sample of residents of the study area who had no history of diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 211 (81.5%) of 259 eligible). Cases and controls were matched by age. Telephone interviews and reviews of medical records obtained height and weight, medical history, average daily hours of exposure to selected physical and organisational work factors, and self ratings on psychosocial work scales.
RESULTS: In the final logistic regression model, five work and three non-work variables were associated with risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, after adjusting for age. For each one unit of increase in body mass index (kg/m2), risk increased 8% (odds ratio (OR) 1.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.03 to 1.14). Having a previous musculoskeletal condition was positively associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 2.54; 95% CI 1.03 to 6.23). People reporting the least influence at work had 2.86 times the risk (95% CI, 1.10 to 7.14) than those with the most influence at work.
CONCLUSIONS: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a work related disease, although some important measures of occupational exposure, including keyboard use, were not risk factors in this general population study. The mechanism whereby a weight gain of about six pounds increases the risk of disease 8% requires explanation.
Author List
Nordstrom DL, Vierkant RA, DeStefano F, Layde PMMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Body Mass Index
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Occupational Diseases
Risk Factors
