title: One-year incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Latino poultry processing workers and other Latino manual workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) over 1 year in Latino poultry processing workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptoms and nerve conduction studies were used to identify Latino poultry processing workers (106 wrists) and Latinos in other manual labor occupations (257 wrists) that did not have CTS at baseline, and these individuals were then evaluated in the same manner 1 year later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on wrists, the 1-year incidence of CTS was higher in poultry processing workers than non-poultry manual workers (19.8% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.022). Poultry workers had a higher odds (1.89; P = 0.089) of developing CTS over 1 year compared to non-poultry manual workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino poultry processing workers have an incidence of CTS that is possibly higher than Latinos in other manual labor positions. Latino poultry workers' high absolute and relative risk of CTS likely results from the repetitive and strenuous nature of poultry processing work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: Francis O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Jill C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: immigrant workers; manufacturing; occupational health; vulnerable populations