Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Male French Farmers and Agricultural Workers: Is It Only Associated With Physical Exposure?

• Published in: Safety and health at work 2020, 11(1), , pp.33-40
• Main Authors: Roquelaure, Yves, Jégo, Sylvaine, Geoffroy-Perez, Béatrice, Chazelle, Emilie, Descatha, Alexis, Evanoff, Bradley, Garlantézec, Ronan, Bodin, Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Chemicals; Co-exposure; Life Sciences; Multiple exposure; Original; Physical risk factors; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Statistics; 예방의학
• ISSN: 2093-7911; 2093-7997
• DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2019.12.003

Exploratory study to investigate whether co-exposure to physical wrist stressors and chemicals is associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in French male farmers and agricultural workers. Cross-sectional study of 711 men aged 30–65 years and working as either farmers or agricultural workers in 2009–2010 within a cohort covered by the French Agricultural Workers' and Farmers' Mutual Benefit Fund. CTS and exposure to physical wrist stressors and chemicals were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Associations between CTS and personal/medical factors, exposure to physical wrist stressors, exposure to chemicals, and co-exposure to physical wrist stressors and chemicals were studied using multivariate logistic regression models. Forty-four men {5.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0–7.7]} reported that they had suffered from unilateral/bilateral CTS during the last 12 months. CTS was associated with age, current smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 2.1 (1.0–4.5)], and exposure to physical wrist stressors [OR = 2.6 (1.1–5.9)]. An association was found between CTS and co-exposure to physical wrist stressors and chemicals [OR = 3.3 (0.8–14.3), p = 0.044] in comparison with the no-exposure group. This exploratory study shows an association of CTS with exposure to biomechanical wrist stressors in male farmers and agricultural workers and suggests an association of CTS with co-exposure to physical wrist stressors and chemicals. Owing to the limitations of the study, this result must be confirmed by a prospective study with objective assessments of the outcome and exposure before drawing conclusions on the possible synergistic effects of mechanical stressors and chemicals on the impairment of the median nerve.