Attributable risk of carpal tunnel syndrome in the general population: implications for intervention programs in the workplace.
OBJECTIVE
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) represents one of the most significant and costly health problems occurring in the working population. An estimation of the potential impact of CTS prevention programs in the workplace would be useful for public policy. The aim of this study was to assess the work-related population-attributable fraction (PAF) of CTS in industrial sectors and occupational categories at high risk of CTS in the general population.


METHODS
All cases of CTS occurring in patients living in a French region were included prospectively between 2002-2004. Using a mailed questionnaire, we gathered medical and occupational history from 815 women and 320 men. We calculated the age-adjusted relative risks and PAF of CTS in relation to industrial sectors and occupational categories.


RESULTS
The PAF for women was higher in lower-grade, white-collar workers (24%, 95% CI 19-29) than blue-collar workers (19%, 95% CI 15-22). The PAF was higher for the service industries sector (16%, 95% CI 8-22) than manufacturing (10%, 95% CI 7-13) or agricultural (5%, 95% CI 3-7) sectors. The PAF was high for men in blue-collar workers (50%, 95% CI 41-57) and in the construction (13%, 95% CI 9-18) and manufacturing industries (17%, 95% CI 10-23).


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggested that 5-50% of CTS cases might be avoided in the whole population if totally effective intervention programs were implemented in specific occupational categories or industrial sectors.
Roquelaure
Yves
Y
Laboratoire d'Ergonomie et d'Epidémiologie en Santé au Travail, Université d'Angers (LEEST-UA InVS-EA) [Laboratory of Ergonomics and Epidemiology in Health at Work, University of Angers], Angers, France. YvRoquelaure@chu-angers.fr
Ha
Catherine
C
Fouquet
Natacha
N
Descatha
Alexis
A
Leclerc
Annette
A
Goldberg
Marcel
M
Imbernon
Ellen
E
D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment