Screening for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Abstract

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome risk in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) using Levine questionnaire for assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome - related symptoms severity and patients’ functional status and to examine the relation of the determined risk with the participants’ demographic, anthropometric and laboratory data.

Participants and Methods. This crosssectional study included 78 chronic HD patients at Department for Nephrology in University Hospital Osijek. All participants filled out the Levine questionnaire to examine the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome - related symptoms and their functional state. The participants’ demographic, anthropometric and laboratory data were taken from the medical records and statistically analyzed by SPSS for Windows (version 16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, SAD).

Results. Risk for carpal tunnel syndrome was found in 38.5% of the participants. No significant differences between patients with and without the risk were found in sex distribution, underlying kidney disease or vascular access. Patients at risk were older (P=0.044) and had higher body mass index (BMI), (t-test, P=0.019). Participants’ age, BMI and predialytic serum urea concentration were independent predictors for carpal tunnel syndrome risk (P=0.033).

Conclusion. The prevalence of risk for carpal tunnel syndrome among patients on chronic HD was found in more than one third of patients. Older age, higher BMI and higher predialytic serum urea concentration bear a higher risk. Electromyoneurography is thus often indicated in this population to confirm the diagnosis for consecutive surgical treatment.