SMOKING AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: A META-ANALYSIS

Introduction: We assessed the association between smoking and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and estimated the magnitude of the association with meta-analysis. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and SciVerse databases were searched through December 2012. Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results: Cross-sectional studies reported an association between current smoking and CTS (pooled odds ratio (OR)=1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.60, I-squared=0%). Meta-analyses of case-control studies did not, however, show an association between smoking and CTS (pooled OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.95-1.12, I-squared=0.0%) or surgery due to CTS (pooled OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.82-1.15, I-squared=0%). Moreover, smoking was not associated with CTS in the meta-analysis of cohort studies (pooled OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.45-1.50, I-squared=0%). Conclusions: We found an association between smoking and CTS in cross-sectional studies. This association should be explored further in appropriately designed case-control and cohort studies. Muscle Nerve49:345-350, 2014