Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Mendelian Randomization Study

Background: This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We used a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to identify causal associations. It is contributing to the understanding of CTS development. Methods: We employed MR analysis to investigate the potential links between 88 different risk factors and CTS. The analysis was conducted using data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that involved a large cohort of individuals with European ancestry, including 48,843 cases of CTS and 1,190,837 controls. Results: Among the 88 potential risk factors, 19 traits, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity-related factors, psychiatric factors, hormone-related factors, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status, were significantly associated with CTS risk. Additionally, suggestive associations were observed with 17 other factors, including fasting glucose, depression, sleep duration, alcohol intake, and vitamin levels. However, no causal evidence was found for associations between autoimmune diseases, inflammatory biomarkers, acromegaly, and wrist fractures with the risk of CTS. Conclusion: This Mendelian randomization study identifies several potential risk factors for CTS, shedding light on its multifactorial nature. These findings underscore the importance of metabolic, hormonal, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors in CTS development, providing valuable implications for preventive measures and interventions.