The Relationship Between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Body Mass Index, Age and Gender
2 Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroloji ve Biyoistatistik Anabilim Dalı, Tokat
3 Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Biyoistatistik Anabilim Dalı, Tokat
Objective: Obesity is defined as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In this study, patients who were referred to our electrophysiology laboratory for suspected CTS have been examined and the relationship between body mass index (BMI), age, and gender have been investigated in these patients with and without CTS and it has been found out whether BMI can be used to predict bilateral CTS.
Materials and Methods: 720 patients were included in this retrospective study, and the ages, genders, heights, weights and BMI values of these patients were recorded. Nerve conduction studies have been performed in all patients. The data of the patients with CTS have been compared with those of the patients without CTS according to nerve conduction studies.
Results: Both the BMI values (p=0.0001) also the mean ages (p=0.0001) of the patients with CTS were statistically found to be significantly higher than those in patients without CTS. There was no statistically significant difference between the BMI values of the patients with unilateral CTS and patients with bilateral CTS (p=0.258). When compared with the male, CTS has more frequently been seen in the female (p=0.04).
Conclusion: Advanced age, female gender and high BMI are important risk factors for CTS. Although BMI is a risk factor for CTS, in our study has been found no correlation between bilateral CTS and BMI.
Keywords : Carpal tunnel syndrome, obesity, body mass index