Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand-Arm Vibration: A Swedish National Registry Case-Control Study

Per Vihlborg; Hans Pettersson; Karim Makdoumi; Sverre Wikström; Ing-Liss Bryngelsson; Jenny Selander; Pål Graff

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002451

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand-Arm Vibration: A Swedish National Registry Case-Control Study

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Mar 1;64(3):197-201. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002451.

Authors

Per Vihlborg¹, Hans Pettersson, Karim Makdoumi, Sverre Wikström, Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, Jenny Selander, Pål Graff

Affiliation

¹ Department of Geriatrics and Odensbackens Health Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden (Dr Vihlborg); School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden (Dr Wikström); Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden (Dr Pettersson); Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden (Dr Makdoumi); Center for Clinical Research and Education, County Council of Värmland, Sweden (Dr Wikström); Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden (Mr Bryngelsson); Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Dr Selander); National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway (Dr Graff).

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the increased risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in men and women with hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure.

Design: Case-control study of CTS where 4396 cases was obtained from National Outpatient Register between 2005 through 2016. Cases were matched to controls and exposure was estimated using a job exposure matrix.

Results: Exposure to HAV increased the risk of CTS with an OR of 1.61 (95% CI 1.46-1.77). The risk was highest in men <30 years of age and among women <30 years no increased risk was observed. The risk increased with a mean year exposure above 2.5 m/s2 to OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.38-2.46).

Conclusions: HAV exposure increase the risk of CTS in both genders, with highest risk increase in younger men. This emphasize identification of HAV exposure in patients with CTS.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* / epidemiology
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* / etiology
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Registries
Risk Factors
Sweden / epidemiology
Vibration / adverse effects