Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35725430›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2022

Occupational cold exposure and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome - a population-based study.

Albin Stjernbrandt, Per Vihlborg, Viktoria Wahlström, Jens Wahlström, Charlotte Lewis

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Albin StjernbrandtDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. albin.stjernbrandt@umu.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6082-8465
Per VihlborgDepartment of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4256-1880
Viktoria WahlströmDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4656-7606
Jens WahlströmDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2359-509X
Charlotte LewisDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7627-0179
Umeå University · SEÖrebro University · SE

Funding

Healthcare Research in Regional Collaboration in the North 939839Västerbotten Läns Landsting 646641
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCold exposure is an underrecognized occupational hazard that may increase the risk of peripheral nerve entrapment. The aim of this study was to determine if self-reported occupational exposure to contact and ambient cooling was associated with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

methodsIn this mainly cross-sectional study, surveys were conducted on a population-based sample of men and women between 18 and 70 years of age, living in northern Sweden. Cold exposure and presence of symptoms suggestive of CTS were subjectively reported. Associations between exposure and outcome were evaluated using logistic regression.

resultsThe study included 2,703 women and 2,314 men, with a median age of 60 years (interquartile range 19). Symptoms of CTS were reported by 453 (9.2%). Being highly occupationally exposed (almost always) to contact cooling of the hands was associated with reporting CTS (OR 3.20; 95% CI 1.62-6.33), as was ambient cooling (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.03-3.88) and severe ambient cooling (OR 4.02 95% CI 2.09-7.71), after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, current daily smoking, diabetes mellitus, joint disease, and hand-arm vibration exposure. The point estimates increased with longer daily exposure duration. For workers exposed to severe ambient cooling for more than half of their working hours, in addition to performing heavy manual handling every day, the OR for reporting CTS was 7.25 (95% CI 3.88-13.53), with a positive additive interaction effect (expressed as relative excess risk due to interaction) of 4.67.

conclusionsSelf-reported occupational exposure to contact and ambient cooling was associated with symptoms suggestive of CTS. There were statistically significant positive exposure-response patterns for time spent exposed to contact and ambient cooling at work in relation to reporting symptoms of CTS. Positive additive interaction effects between cold exposure and heavy manual handling were also found. Since there was important potential uncontrolled confounding regarding repetitive wrist movements and forceful gripping, the results need to be confirmed by other studies, preferably with longitudinal design and more detailed exposure assessment.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeOccupational DiseasesOccupational ExposureCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsWristCarpal Tunnel SyndromeCold ExposureCold InjuryErgonomicsLiftingOccupational ExposureOccupational HealthParesthesiaSwedenVibration

Identifiers

PMID35725430
PMCPMC9210706
OpenAlexW4283204046

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.