Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Risk Factors

Highlights	Risk Factors	Treatment
Introduction	Prognosis	Surgery
Symptoms	Prevention	Resources
Causes	Diagnosis	References

Risk Factors

Evidence suggests that about 3% of women and 2% of men will be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome during their lifetimes, with peak prevalence in women older than 55. Still, determining how many people actually have CTS is very difficult. Many people report CTS symptoms who have normal test results and some people have no symptoms and show abnormal results. Furthermore, there is some evidence that after a decline in cases, the prevalence in CTS is rising.

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A large 2005 study of over 1000 patients found that the severity of CTS was mild in 42% of patients, moderate in 18%, and severe in 40%. Patients were an average of about 48 years old. More than five times as many women then men participated in the study.

Age

Older people are at higher risk than younger adults are. It is very rare in children.

Women

Many studies indicate that women have a significantly higher risk for carpal tunnel syndrome than men do. According to the National Institutes of Health, women are three times more likely than men to experience carpal tunnel syndrome. The explanation for this greater risk is unknown but may be related to the smaller size of women's carpal tunnel.

Hormonal changes appear to play a major role as evidenced by an increased incidence in CTS symptoms during the following hormone-related events:

During pregnancy. A 2005 study reported that 17% of pregnant women had CTS. Nearly one-quarter of those had it in both wrists. Early studies have presented conflicting reports regarding when CTS is most often to occur during pregancy. One found that most cases occurred in the third trimester and weight gain increased the risk. Another concluded that CTS developed at any point during the pregnancy. New-onset CTS during pregnancy that is severe and persistent enough to require treatment is uncommon, however. Most cases go away on their own after delivery. However, in one study, 11% of women reported CTS six months after delivery and 4.3% still had the condition a year afterward.
During the postpartum period.
At the time of menopause.
Breast feeding, which temporarily lowers natural steroid hormone levels, has been linked to flare-ups of inflammatory disorders such as CTS.

Other conditions that are more specific to women than men may increase the risk for carpal tunnel syndrome:

The hand-intensive nature of housework and typing may contribute to a higher incidence in women.
Women are also at significantly higher risk for autoimmune disorders than men are; such disorders are highly linked to CTS.