Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Dec;22(4):e70024.
doi: 10.1002/msc.70024.

Global and Regional Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis Based on a Systematic Review

T Gebrye  1 , E Jeans  2 , G Yeowell  1 , C Mbada  1 , F Fatoye  1   3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Global and Regional Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis Based on a Systematic Review

T Gebrye et al. Musculoskeletal Care. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a considerable concern, impacting individual health and socio-economic factors. A systematic review and meta-analysis of CTS prevalence would offer valuable insights for healthcare planning, improving outcomes and reducing the burden on affected individuals.

Methods: In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of CTS. Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies published from 1 January 2012 to 10 October 2024. The pooled prevalence rates were determined using a random effects model.

Results: The search yielded 548 initial findings, 103 duplicate records were eliminated, and only 31 of these papers were deemed relevant for inclusion in this review. The prevalence estimates were sourced from 15 different countries, including the United States (n = 8), Saudi Arabia (n = 5), Ethiopia (n = 3), Turkey (n = 2), Iran (n = 2) and Brazil (n = 2), among others. Each of the following countries contributed one study: China, France, Germany, India, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Korea, the Netherlands, and Sweden. In total, the included studies analysed 5,311,785 individuals, revealing a prevalence of CTS ranging from 0.003 to 0.743. The random-effects meta-analysis yielded an overall prevalence estimate of 0.144, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.067-0.282, based on 30 studies.

Conclusion: The prevalence estimates for CTS are notably high, highlighting the need for effective surgical management strategies. Developing and implementing these interventions is crucial to enhancing health outcomes for individuals affected by CTS.

Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome; musculoskeletal disorder; prevalence; systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow diagram of publications included and excluded in the review.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Proportion of the included studies by regions (N = 31).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Meta‐analysis of CTS overall prevalence using a random effects model.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Meta‐analysis of CTS in high income countries.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Meta‐analysis of CTS in LMICs.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Meta‐analysis of CTS by continents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ahamed, S. S. , Anas B. M., Aref A. A., and Abdulrahman A. A.. 2015. “Prevalence and Associated Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Among Medical Laboratory Staff at King Saud University Hospitals, KSA.” Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences Quarterly 31, no. 2: 1BB. 10.12669/pjms.312.6831. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Akbar, M. , Penzkofer S., Weber M. A., Bruckner T., Winterstein M., and Jung M.. 2014. “Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Wrist Osteoarthritis in Long‐Term Paraplegic Patients Compared With Controls.” Journal of Hand Surgery 39, no. 2: 132–138. 10.1177/1753193413478550. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alhusain, F. A. , Almohrij M., Althukeir F., et al. 2019. “Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Among Dentists Working in Riyadh.” Annals of Saudi Medicine 39, no. 2: 104–111. 10.5144/0256-4947.2019.07.03.1405. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. AlHussain, A. H. , Alshahir A. A., AlNaqa F. H., Alsaygh E. F., Alquwaiz I. A., and Alqahtani M. S.. 2023. “Prevalence and Predictors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Among Teachers in Riyadh: A Cross‐Sectional Study.” Cureus 15, no. 2: e35040. 10.7759/cureus.35040. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bekele, A. , Abebe G., Hailu T., et al. 2022. “Prevalence and Associated Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Diabetic Patients in Arba Minch General Hospital, South West Ethiopia, 2021.” Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy 15: 983–993. 10.2147/dmso.s356484. - DOI - PMC - PubMed