Socioeconomic deprivation and the epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Deprivation has been recognized as a major determinant of health and is associated with several musculoskeletal conditions. This study examines the effect of deprivation on the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome using a regional prospective audit database. Over a 6 year period there were 1564 patients diagnosed with CTS with an annual incidence of 72/100,000 population. There was a significant difference in population incidence of CTS from the most deprived (81/100,000) to the least deprived (62/100,000) (p = 0.003). Functional impairment was higher in the most deprived group compared with the least (DASH 56 vs 48, p = 0.001). The most deprived group exhibited the greatest exposure to occupation vibration (42.7%), and had the greatest risk of bilateral disease (OR = 2.33, p < 0.001). We report an association between socioeconomic deprivation and carpal tunnel syndrome, with the disease being more likely to be bilateral and have a poorer DASH score in the most deprived patients.

Clinical topographic analysis of neuropathic pain in patients admitted in a center of multidisciplinary treatment

“…The interaction between different knowledge and patients' multidisciplinary approach in pain clinics positions them as active subjects in the therapeutic process and provides a holistic vision to professionals, which makes clinical information more detailed and the diagnosis faster 9 . In our study, the sample has shown predominance of females, which reinforces the hypothesis of previous studies which have evidenced higher neuropathic pain prevalence among females 6,[10][11][12] . Hormonal differences, easiness to verbalize pain and lower tolerance to pain may explain such results 6 .…”

Follow-up investigation of open trigger digit release

“…Our diabetic patients did not present with a higher incidence of trigger digit, carpal tunnel syndrome or Dupuytren's disease. In their evaluation of 108 patients, Rottgers et al [36][37][38][39] arrived at the same conclusion, with 53% of his patients suVering from diabetes mellitus, that diabetes mellitus does not predispose to the concomitant presentation of trigger digit and carpal tunnel syndrome.…”

Epidemiology of neuropathic pain

“…The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome varies from 51 to 125:100,000 being more frequent among females between 40 and 60 years of age 50,51 . However, a study aiming at evaluating clinical NP characteristics in carpal tunnel syndrome patients using painDETECT as questionnaire to distinguish NP has not shown significant differences among patients with and without NP; however pain intensity and night pain were higher for those with NP 52 .…”