Inter-measurement correlation of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome severity assessment tools and its influencing factors

Background and objectives. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent entrapment neuropathy in which median nerve compression at the wrist causes symptoms such as tingling, pain, and muscle weakness. The severity of CTS can be assessed subjectively using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and objectively using nerve conduction studies (NCS). This study analyzes the correlation between BCTQ scores and NCS results and examines the influence of demographic factors, pain intensity, and psychological factors on CTS severity. Materials and methods. This analytical observational study employed a cross-sectional approach, integrating BCTQ with NCS among 40 Indonesian CTS patients. NCS severity was assessed using the Bland and Padua criteria. Additional analysis examined the influence of demographic factors, pain intensity, and psychological factors through logistic regression. Results. Our findings revealed a weak but significant positive correlation between the BCTQ symptom severity scale (SSS) and NCS severity grade, particularly in Bland’s and Padua’s classifications. No significant correlations were found between the BCTQ functional status scale (FSS) and NCS severity grade. Symptom duration was a significant predictor of NCS severity grade, with durations ≥1 year increasing the risk of higher NCS severity (Bland grade 4-6) by 6.034 times (p=0.025). Anxiety increased the likelihood of severe BCTQ SSS by 9.479 times (p=0.032) and severe FSS by 10.833 times (p=0.029). Conclusions. The study confirmed that while the BCTQ provides a useful subjective assessment of CTS severity, its correlation with objective NCS findings is limited.