Abstract Details

Title Evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) Neuroepidemiology Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 011

Background CTS is the most common compression neuropathy in the upper limb. While various risk factors have been linked to CTS, the role of DM remains unclear. Previous studies have failed to consistently demonstrate a clear association due to variations in the geographic location of the study and in study design.

Objective To assess if there is an association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using population-based data from the United States.

Design/Methods We identified adult patients ≥ 18 years old who contributed data to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) between 2006 and 2015. The outcome was carpal tunnel syndrome identified by ICD-9-CM codes (354.0 and 354.1), and the main independent variable was physician-reported diabetes status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained. Stata v15 was used for all analyses.

Results Among patients included in this study (n = 322,092), 13.5% presented with DM while 0.55% with CTS. The unadjusted OR of having CTS among patients with diabetes was 0.92 (95% CI 0.74-1.14; p = 0.447). After adjusting for confounding variables, the association remained not statistically significant (aOR: 0.84; 95% CI 0.65-1.09; p = 0.203). Other variables independently associated with CTS included: age 50-59 (aOR: 1.91; 95% CI 1.49-2.45, p < 0.001), female gender (aOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.09-1.58, p < 0.004), and current tobacco use (aOR 1.32 ; 95% CI 1.07-1.63, p < 0.01).

Conclusions We found no association between DM and CTS in adult ambulatory patients in the United States, but results should be taken in light of potential outcome misclassification. Future population-based studies utilizing a prospective study design should be conducted to investigate the association between diabetes control and CTS.

Authors/Disclosures
Jason Low PRESENTER	Mr. Low has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file