Table of Contents
Risk Factors
Evidence suggests that about 3% of women and 2% of men will be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome during their lifetime. The condition peaks in women over age 55. Still, determining how many people actually have CTS is very difficult. Many people who report CTS symptoms have normal test results. Other people have abnormal test results but no symptoms.
Age
Older people are at higher risk for CTS than younger adults. CTS is very rare in children.
Women
Many studies indicate that women have a significantly higher risk for carpal tunnel syndrome than men. According to the National Institutes of Health, women are three times more likely than men to have carpal tunnel syndrome. The explanation for this greater risk is unknown, but it may be related to the smaller size of a woman's carpal tunnel. Hormonal changes also appear to play a major role in CTS.
In pregnant women, CTS may occur in both wrists. CTS that begins during pregnancy is usually not severe and persistent enough to require treatment. Although cases eventually go away on their own after delivery, symptoms may persist for 6 months or more.
CTS has also been shown to increase:
- After delivering a baby
- During menopause
Women are also at a much higher risk for autoimmune disorders than men. These disorders are significantly linked to CTS.
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Review Date: 02/17/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
