title: Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among employees at a poultry processing plant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among poultry processing employees while taking into account non-occupational factors and assess any association between CTS prevalence and exposure groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performed a cross-sectional survey to assess CTS (n = 318). A CTS case was defined as an employee with self-reported CTS symptoms, an abnormal hand symptom diagram, and an abnormal nerve conduction study (NCS). Log-binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and one participants had sufficient symptom information or NCS data to be classified. 126 (42%) of 301 participants had evidence of CTS. In the adjusted analysis, the highest exposure group had CTS prevalence that was significantly higher than that for the lower exposure group [PR: 1.61; 95% CI = (1.20, 2.17)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing levels of hand activity and force were associated with increased CTS prevalence among participants. Recommendations were provided to reduce exposure to these risk factors.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Technical Assistance Branch, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R10 Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. Electronic address: jwy1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Musolin
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Technical Assistance Branch, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R10 Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. Electronic address: ddq2@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Jessica G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Morgantown, WV 26501, USA. Electronic address: jtw2@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wassell
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Morgantown, WV 26501, USA. Electronic address: dlh6@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011202:Poultry Products; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Ergonomics; Occupation; Poultry processing