On the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome: Metabolic syndrome or obesity

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between CTS, metabolic syndrome and obesity and to compare the severity of CTS between patients with or without metabolic syndrome (MS) and patients with or without obesity. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients with clinical and electrophysiological confirmed diagnosis of CTS were included. The waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, fasting triglycerides and high/low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were recorded. Patients were categorized having metabolic syndrome according to Adult Treatment Panel III definition, while body mass index was used to identify obesity. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients with a mean age of 58.91 ± 12.49 years were included. MS was found in 39 (60%) patients and obesity in 27 (41.5%) patients. The CTS was described as mild, moderate and severe in 8, 12 and 19 hands of those with MS and in 2, 6, and 18 of those without MS respectively (p = 0.207). There were no statistically significant results observed between BMI and the severity of CTS (p > 0.05). The mean waist circumference was 94.75 ± 7.36, 98.78 ± 9.64, 106.42 ± 10.78, 86.41 ± 6.77 for patients with MS+O–, MS–O+, MS+O+ and MS–O– respectively (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: CTS appears to be more severe in patients with MS than in patients with obesity. Central obesity is one of the well-known risk factors for CTS, but components of MS may have a greater effect on the severity of CTS.