EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CTS

Incidence rates of up to 276:100,000 per year have been
reported [16], with a prevalence rate up to 9.2% in women and
6% in men [13]. More common in females than in males, its
occurrence is commonly bilaterally with a peak age range of 40
to 60 years [17]; although it occurs in all age groups. The
prevalence of CTS in the United Kingdome (UK) alone is 7-
16% [9]); much higher than the 5% prevalence in the United
States (US) [3].
 In all western countries, an increase is reported in the
number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)
caused by strain and repeated movements (biomechanical
overload). In Europe, in 1998, over 60% of upper limb
musculoskeletal disorders recognised as work-related were CTS
cases cases [18,19]. Some industries such as fish processing
have reported the prevalence of CTS in their workers to be as
high as 73% [20].
 This data may reflect the increasing level of sensitivity to
this problem, which is translated into a higher number of
reports, rather than reflecting an actual increase in the
prevalence of CTS [2]. There certainly has been an increase
in the number of CTS patients, but this could be due to the
general increase in the life span of people and the increased
number of diabetic patients [21]. Diabetic patients have a
prevalence rate of 14% and 30% without and with diabetic
neuropathy, respectively [22], whilst the prevalence of CTS
during pregnancy has been reported to be around 2% [23].