Evaluation of age, body mass index, and wrist index as risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome severity.

To determine the role of personal variables as risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their relationship to severity of nerve conduction abnormality, we studied 210 consecutive symptomatic CTS patients and 320 controls subjects without CTS symptomatology or known systemic disorders. The CTS group was classified according to the severity of nerve conduction changes. The risk factors for CTS and its severity were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate analysis. Presence of CTS was significantly related to increase of body mass index (BMI) and wrist index. More severe nerve conduction abnormalities were associated with greater age and wrist index but not with higher BMI.