PMID: identifier of
Pubmed reference: |
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 (21301789)  |
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| title: |
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Comparison of research case definitions for carpal tunnel syndrome. |
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| author(s): |
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Alexis Descatha ( ) 1, 2, Ann-Marie Dale2, Alfred Franzblau3, Justin Coomes2, Bradley Evanoff2 |
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| laboratory: |
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| short title : |
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Research case definitions of carpal tunnel syndrome |
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| abstract: |
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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess agreement between different case definitions of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) for epidemiological studies. METHODS: We performed a literature search for papers suggesting case definitions for use in epidemiological studies of CTS. Using data elements based on symptom questionnaires, hand diagrams, physical examinations, and nerve conduction studies collected from 1107 newly-hired workers, each subject in the study was classified according to each of the case definitions selected from the literature. We compared each case definition to every other case definition, using the Kappa statistic to measure pair-wise agreement on whether each subject met the case definition. RESULTS: We found six unique papers in a 20-year period suggesting a case definition of CTS for use in population-based studies. We extracted seven case definitions. Definitions included different parameters: (i) symptoms only, (ii) symptoms and physical examination, (iii) symptoms and either physical examination or median nerve conduction study, and (iv) symptoms and nerve conduction study. When applied to our study population, the prevalence of CTS using different case definitions ranged from 2.5-11.0%. The percentage of misclassification was between 1-10%, with generally acceptable levels of agreement (kappa values ranged from 0.30-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Different case definitions resulted in widely varying prevalences of CTS. Agreement between case definitions was generally good, particularly between those that required very specific symptoms or the combination of symptoms and physical examination or nerve conduction. The agreement observed between different case definitions suggests that the results can be compared across different research studies of risk factors for CTS. |
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| subject: |
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Life Sciences/Health Care Sciences and Epidemiology
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| fulltext language: |
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English |
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| ISSN: |
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1795-990X |
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| publication format: |
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Article in peer-reviewed journal |
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| journal: |
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Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health |
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| Audience: |
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international |
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| publication date: |
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2011-07 |
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| submission date: |
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2011-02-08 |
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| volume: |
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37 |
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| issue: |
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4 |
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| page, identifiant, ...: |
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298-306 |
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| keyword(s) of author: |
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median neuropathy – population study – nerve conduction studies – screening |
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| contract, financing: |
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This study was supported by research funding from the Centers for Disease Control / National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (R01 OH008017-01) and from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research (UL1 RR024992). Financial support for Justin Coomes was provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. |
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