Seasonal variation and demographical characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome in a Pakistani population.

OBJECTIVE To determine the demographic characteristics of gender, age, involvement of hand/hands and seasonal distribution in patients with a neurophysiological diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). STUDY DESIGN An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Neurology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi and PIMS, Islamabad, during December 2006 to July 2009. METHODOLOGY Cases reported in the months of December and January (winter group) and those reported in the months of June and July (summer group), of any age and gender with electrophysiological confirmation of CTS were included. Those having median neuropathy in the region of elbow, brachial plexopathy and cervical radiculopathy (C6-7) or polyneuropathy were excluded. Nerve conduction study was done in Median nerve. Statistical significance between the two groups (summer and winter) was calculated. RESULTS Among the 213 patients (320 hands) of CTS, 70 (105 hands) were in summer group and 143 (215 hands) were in winter group. There were 15 (21.43%) males and 55 (78.57%) females in summer group and 22 (15.38%) males and 121 (84.62%) females in winter group. The female hands were 83 (79.05%) and 182 (84.65%) and male hands were 22 (20.95%) and 33 (15.35%), respectively in summer and winter group. Mean age was 44.38 years and 45.16 years. The right hand was affected in 64 (60.95%) and 121 (56.28%); and the left hand was affected in 41 (39.05%) and 94 (43.72%) in summer and winter groups respectively. Half of the patients had bilateral involvement. The p-values for the NCS variables were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Presentation with CTS was more common in winter at the study centre. Female gender and dominant hand was affected more frequently. There were no significant changes in NCS parameters among the two groups.