title: Carpal tunnel syndrome: associations between risk factors and laterality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The investigation of the association between known risk factors and laterality in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  130 consecutive subjects with CTS only, or mainly, in the left hand were compared with 130 consecutive subjects with CTS only, or mainly, in the right hand. The following parameters were recorded: age, sex, job, handedness, hand mainly used in daily activities, BMI, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, wrist trauma and connective tissue diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A left dominant hand was independently associated with 13-fold higher odds for left-hand CTS, while a right dominant hand had 5-fold higher odds for right-hand CTS. Right-hand CTS was more frequent in younger subjects and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older age, higher BMI and diabetes mellitus were more prevalent in patients with bilateral CTS. Age and BMI were independently associated with bilateral CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, EMG Laboratory, University of Athens, Aeghinition Hospital, Athens, Greece. tzabelis@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zambelis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsivgoulis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karandreas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology