title: Prevalence, course and determinants of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms during pregnancy: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence, severity and relation to fluid retention of self-reported pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms in a large sample of pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective longitudinal cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dutch women who became pregnant between January 2013 and January 2014 in the southeast of The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 639 Dutch pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline characteristics were assessed at 12 weeks' gestation. CTS symptoms were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) at 32 weeks and during the first postpartum week regarding the last weeks of pregnancy. Fluid retention, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms (using the Edinburgh Depression Scale) were assessed at several time points during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  BCTQ scores, fluid retention and sleeping problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 639 women, 219 (34%) reported CTS symptoms during pregnancy. Total mean scores on the BCTQ were significantly higher after 32 weeks' than up to 32 weeks' gestation. Most women experienced mild to moderate symptoms. Pregnant women with CTS symptoms reported significantly higher levels of fluid retention during gestation compared with pregnant women without CTS symptoms [F = 60.6, df (1598), P < 0.001], adjusted for body mass index (BMI), age, parity, and depression scores. Higher scores on fluid retention throughout the pregnancy were significantly related to CTS (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.5, 2.1, P < 0.001). Finally, the occurrence of CTS was independently related to sleeping problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the severity of symptoms and functional impairment of CTS were relatively mild, health care professionals should be aware of the high prevalence. The occurrence of CTS symptoms is significantly higher in women who report fluid retention during gestation and it can contribute to sleeping problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meems
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truijens
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V J M
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Pop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire; carpal tunnel syndrome; depression; fluid retention; pregnancy; sleep